Big changes are underway at the ATF, and for suppressor owners and advocates, things are looking up.
With Kash Patel now serving as Acting Director, the Trump administration’s pro-Second Amendment executive order, and legal battles heating up, the fight for suppressor rights is gaining momentum.
Table of contents
Trump’s Executive Order: A Game Changer for Suppressors
On February 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the DOJ and ATF to review all firearm-related regulations imposed by the previous administration.
Among the biggest issues under review? Suppressor transfer applications and outdated ATF policies that have slowed down approvals for years.
This order is a golden opportunity to push for faster suppressor transfers, end unnecessary restrictions, and repeal outdated policies that have burdened gun owners for too long.
Kash Patel’s Impact on ATF and NFA Wait Times
On February 24, Kash Patel was sworn in as Acting Director of the ATF. And, his leadership could mark a major shift.
Unlike past ATF directors who pushed for stricter gun control, Patel has made it clear that political bias has no place in federal law enforcement.
His appointment brings a real chance to reform suppressor regulations, including:
- Reducing NFA wait times – With Patel overseeing both the ATF and the FBI, there’s now a path to speed up Form 4 approvals by cutting down on excessive background check delays.
- Reevaluating suppressor classifications – The ATF’s inconsistent rulings on suppressor parts could be reassessed to eliminate unnecessary restrictions.
- Focusing ATF efforts on crime, not gun owners – Patel has the power to redirect ATF resources toward real criminals instead of law-abiding suppressor buyers.
Litigation Updates: Suppressor Bans Under Fire
The fight against suppressor bans is heating up across multiple court circuits. The ASA-backed lawsuits in Illinois and California are challenging state-level suppressor bans. And, Trump’s executive order opens the door for the administration to support these legal battles.
SEE ALSO: GForce Arms Exodus: Affordable Carry
Meanwhile, the Fifth Circuit recently ruled that suppressors aren’t protected by the Second Amendment, a decision that’s already being challenged.
With the right legal backing, this ruling could be overturned, paving the way for suppressors to be treated like any other firearm accessory.
What’s Next?
Suppressor owners and advocates have more momentum than ever. But now is the time to push for real reforms.
The American Suppressor Association (ASA) and other pro-2A groups are working directly with the DOJ, ATF, and Congress to ensure lasting changes that protect and expand suppressor rights.
Stay tuned—2025 could be a historic year for suppressor laws and 2A freedoms.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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To director Kash Patel: Maybe you’ll be able to quash the ATF’s ability to keep killing and raiding people’s homes in early morning raids. Brian Malinowski was murdered in the early morning in Little Rock AR. The ATF had no legal right to do that. They could have gone to the airport that he used to manage before they killed him to arrest him. They went to his home earlier and he wasn’t home. In November 2024 The ATF performed an early morning raid against a Black family in Maryland. The father retrieved his fire arm and looked out the window and saw men dressed in tactical gear with rifles. He put his gun down and opened the front door and started to come outside. They told him to go back inside, They then pried the front door open with a crowbar and threw in a flashbang grenade. They also threw a flashbang into his 15 year old son’s window. They had the family come out at gunpoint and handcuffed the whole family. They said they had a warrant for machine guns, however, no illegal weapons in his house. Both parents are school teachers and are very well respected in the community. The ATF had their dogs in their house and let the dogs defecate in the house and in the daughters bed. This Bullshit is getting out of control. Thank you, Danny Phillips
When are we going to hear anything on 50 state reciprocity on conceal carry? Like was promised in Trump’s campaign .
THANK GOD there is someone sane & working for We the People in the White House today. Very glad there are 5 million less STUPID voters today, than back in 2020. I think the other 17 million stayed in their graves, didn’t vote in 2024.
Yeah, but they’re still drawing their social security benefits.
A suppressor is an accessory. It’s like buying a scope, trigger, hand-guard, etc…… It’s designed to protect the shooters hearing and help with “ear pro”.
There shouldn’t be any regulations on suppressors.
The use of a suppressor to kill someone can be done without a suppressor. It doesn’t make the rifle super quiet. A person can use a pillow or an oil filter to do the same thing.
Don’t punish the hunter. Punish the criminal.
They also mask the noise making it difficult to determine where the threat is coming from (just to add to your reasons for use). I wonder if they are actually protected under the 2a. I’m not sure everyone will actually be happier for them to quickly and easily be bought over the counter. Wait till they end up all over Chicago being used in murders and really get the attention and hate from the lawmakers you think are on your side wanting to keep their seat. An argument might be made they aren’t protected allowing laws to actually ban in more places or potentially everywhere. I am sure of one thing that will happen, rather than being a slight inconvenience with paperwork, an extra $200 and waiting 2-4 weeks, the price will skyrocket even more due to supply and demand (it has already happened with reduced wait times) and it will take longer to receive the one you want because they will always be out of stock (also already happening with reduced wait times). As much as I would like to pick up three this afternoon, I wonder if the benefit will actually be worth the cost no one is considering. For those concerned about being on a “list”, they are already on a list if there is one or will easily be once it is compiled with AI. And who cares, they are the same ones who boldly say “they will not comply !”
“Suppressors also mask the noise and make it difficult to determine where the threat is coming from.” It does’t mask the noise. I reduced the DB level of sound. It also hides the flash signature. My LaRue Predatar 5.56 with a SOCOM RC2 still makes a loud noise when I fire a 77 grain round. They use suppressors in war to hide the flash signature and to make it hard to determine the location of the shooter. I don’t think gang bangers will be using suppressors to hide their location.
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve read ever! “Wait until they end up all over Chicago being used in murder and really get the attention from the lawmakers” LOL
I can tell you don’t own a suppressor. Chicago already has problems with their criminals shooting people in the hood and on trains (highest gun murder rate in the US with the strictest gun laws – imagine that. Excellent job by those lawmakers). Suppressors don’t kill people. They protect your hearing. And making suppressors available to purchase without paying the $200 tax stamp would benefit hunters and law abiding citizens. The criminals in Chicago don’t use suppressors. I doubt they bother to put on ear protection when they shoot people on the streets.
Hunters used suppressors to make the shooting more enjoyable. I own suppressors in order to reduce the muzzle noise and make shooting more enjoyable. Some rifles I don’t have to wear Ear Pro with a suppressor. For example, 300 Blackout super sonic with a suppressor is below 135 db. 9 mm carbine with suppressor is below 135 db. 7.62×39 coming out a 5.5″ barrel with a suppressor attached is not ear pro. But, I would rather have the suppressor due to the huge fireball coming out that 5.5″ barrel.
Law makers are dumbasses. They make laws that restrict the second amendment rights of every American citizen. Trump will take care of all those restrictive laws. That’s on Trump’s agenda.
I live in Texas. We passed a law that you can buy and own a suppressor made in Texas without paying that Federal Tax stamp. So I don’t have to worry about that tax stamp anymore. We have several companies in Texas that made awesome suppressors. Jesse James (from West Coast Choppers) is making custom 1911 guns and suppressors in Austin, Texas. And just so you know, suppressors still make a noise when you shot a 5.56 or a 6.5 creed more or a 3.08. The high velocity rifle rounds are hard to keep ear pro. But, suppressors do lower the DB. I have several suppressors. Only the ATF has the paperwork and my local Sheriff. And the Sheriff doesn’t care. They are the highest law of the land in the Unite States. I’m not concerned about being on any list. They may know about my suppressors, but that is all they know. They don’t know what firearms I own.
Thanks for the diatribe. You certainly showed me. I would love for the 1934 National Firearms Act and the 1968 Gun Control Act to be repealed. As well as the ATF being shut down. Go drink a good bourbon and drown in you liberal tears. Not sure why you are on this platform. Must be trolling.
The Second Amendment does not mention anything about the accessories that are placed on the firearm. A suppressor is an item that is used on the firearm not the firearm. THE ATF has over stepped its authority by restricting its use. All these regulations should be eliminated.
amazing how a “muffler” for a gun is more restricted than the firearm itself? I’ve been waiting for “permission” frum da massa n da Den of Corruption for a .22 suppressor for 15 months. So, I paid for another one, a 9MM, on month # 12. Then they started asking for info on the .22 ? bunch of jackasses. Hope Musk tells Donald Trump to close it down. Make We the People part of a republic again. Thanks a lot, Abe Lincoln (fool)
Your statement is what we would like to believe is true but is my reason behind responding to the post above. If it is not protected under the 2a, what will allow lawmakers to legally vote to ban suppressors? I won’t put it past any of them you think are on your side once they start showing up in the news every night or at a school shooting. Do you not remember the backlash after lawmakers first heard of a bumpstock? Suppressors are already getting too difficult to purchase due to supply and demand driving cost and availability more so than $200 we shouldn’t have to pay a what now seems to be an small wait compared to 2 years. I hope I’m proven wrong once every gangbanger without a record starts buying them or has more availability to obtain through theft.
The ATF needs to be eliminated.
the 2a already provided for this……”shall not be infringed”
I’ve bought 3 ‘cans’ over the last 15 years and it was a royal PITA. A $1000 attorney fee’s for a trust, which was the only route I had in my state, three $200 tax stamps, and wait times close to a year.
At the very least, buying a suppressor should be no different than purchasing a hand gun. In my state, if you have a CCL you can walk into any gun store and buy a hand gun without wait or the back ground check. It should be the same purchasing any accessories, like suppressors that are serialized.
They should also do away with the archaic state to state purchasing rules. If I want to buy a hand gun at a neighboring state I should be allowed to without having to transfer through FFL’s.
I like Kash Patel but nothing major is going to happen without repealing some or all the NFA. Wait times for approvals are already addressed by previous legislation and are faster than ever. We need to stop grovelling for crumbs and demand the whole slice of cake. There are zero logical reasons for suppressors to be included under the NFA to begin with, they were included by uneducated legislators who got all their shooting knowledge from Hollywood. Not even the nanny states across the pond controlled them but instead encouraged them for shooting safety reasons. Until suppressors are completely removed from the NFA we the people will get nothing but crumbs that do little to nothing to feed our suppressor hunger.
Should be interesting. Excessive wait times are already resolved, so that’s minor.
Trump said he was going to make suppressors and over the counter accessory during his first term. Didn’t happen. So don’t get your hopes up.
IF we don’t see gov’t. criminals being processed soon for their YEARS of stealing & wasting our tax dollars…. this will NOT end well, as IT shouldn’t. socialism NEVER ends well
EOs are a good but only a temporary solution. An EO can be undone.
Congress needs to pass strong pro-2A laws.
like Janis Joplin said “better get IT while you can”. I HATE being a slave to the STATE.
would like to also see efforts on SBRs, deregulate or at least re-define to 10″ and remove requirement to notify when crossing state lines.