The right to keep and bear arms is a cornerstone of American liberty.
We, the undersigned, stand united in demanding that the Senate uphold this right without compromise.
The time for bold action is now.
Open Letter to Congress
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We, the undersigned, representing a broad coalition of American citizens, Second Amendment organizations, Firearms manufacturers, Legislators and dealers, write to demand the inclusion of critical reforms in the forthcoming reconciliation bill to protect and expand the constitutional rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment.
Specifically, we urge the Senate to:
(1) retain and strengthen the House-adopted Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 404) including anecessary federal preemption of state suppressor prohibitions;
(2) incorporate the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act (H.R. 2395); and
(3) eliminate the National Firearms Act (NFA) manufacturing and transfer taxes on all small arms. These measures are essential to dismantle unconstitutional restrictions, promote public health, and uphold the fundamental liberties of law-abiding Americans.
President Trump, in his campaign speeches, promised to deliver on correcting the pistol brace issue, and now is the time to deliver on that promise by including the SHORT Act in the reconciliation bill. Nothing short of a repeal of the NFA prohibitions on short-barrel firearms will fix the statutory framework that created the problem for so many gun owners during the Biden administration.
The Second Amendment unequivocally affirms the right of the people to keep and bear arms, a right that “shall not be infringed.” Yet, for nearly a century, the NFA of 1934 has imposed burdensome regulations that undermine this constitutional guarantee. The reconciliation process presents a rare opportunity to enact transformative reforms that align federal law with the Constitution and the modern realities of firearms ownership. We implore the Senate to act with resolve to secure these protections for current and future generations.
1. Retain and Expand the Hearing Protection Act with Federal Preemption
The Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 404), as passed by the House, removes firearm suppressors from the NFA’s oppressive regulatory framework. Suppressors, which reduce firearm noise to safer levels, are critical tools for preventing permanent hearing loss—a public health issue affecting millions of shooters and hunters. The American Academy of Otolaryngology endorses their use, yet the NFA’s $200 tax stamp, extensive paperwork, and wait times often exceeding nine months deter law-abiding citizens from accessing these devices. With over 4.8 million suppressors in civilian circulation, their safety and utility are indisputable.
We demand that the Senate preserve H.R. 404 in its entirety and expand it to include federal preemption of state-level suppressor bans. States such as California and New York impose prohibitions that not only violate the Second Amendment but also deny residents the health benefits of hearing protection. Federal preemption is necessary to ensure uniform access to suppressors nationwide, safeguarding both constitutional rights and public welfare.
2. Incorporate the SHORT Act to Protect Second Amendment Rights
The SHORT Act (H.R. 2395) removes short-barreled rifles (SBRs) and short-barreled shotguns (SBSs) from the NFA’s regulatory scheme, eliminating restrictions that serve no public safety purpose. These firearms, arbitrarily classified alongside machine guns due to 1930s-era concerns, pose no greater risk than their longer-barreled counterparts. The NFA’s requirements for SBRs and SBSs—tax stamps, registration, and lengthy approval processes—infringe upon the rights of law-abiding Americans without justification. Including the SHORT Act in the reconciliation bill is a critical step toward restoring Second Amendment protections and ending the harassment of responsible gun owners.
3. Eliminate NFA Manufacturing and Transfer Taxes on Small Arms
We further demand that the reconciliation bill zero out the NFA’s manufacturing and transfer taxes on all small arms, including firearms, suppressors, and other regulated devices. These taxes, enacted as revenue measures in 1934, are relics of a bygone era with no bearing on public safety. They impose undue financial burdens on manufacturers, small businesses, and individual gun owners, effectively taxing the exercise of a constitutional right. Eliminating these taxes would reduce barriers to Second Amendment access, stimulate economic growth in the firearms industry, and reaffirm that the right to keep and bear arms is not subject to arbitrary fiscal penalties.
The urgency of these reforms is underscored by the unified efforts of the National Coalition of Gun Rights Groups, as articulated in our collective letter to Congress on May 17, 2025. Millions of Americans have voiced their support for NFA reform, reflecting a broad consensus that the current regulatory regime is unjust and unconstitutional. Opposition from groups like Everytown for Gun Safety, which falsely claim that suppressor or SBR deregulation threatens public safety, lacks empirical support. Suppressors and SBRs are rarely used in criminal activity, and removing these tools from the National Firearms Act would benefit all Americans.
The reconciliation process offers a unique opportunity to bypass Senate filibuster constraints and enact these long-overdue reforms. Failure to act would perpetuate an unconstitutional status quo, betraying the trust of the American people and the principles enshrined in our Constitution.
We call upon the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Majority Leader to champion the inclusion of the Hearing Protection Act with federal preemption, the SHORT Act, and the elimination of NFA taxes in the reconciliation bill.
The right to keep and bear arms is a cornerstone of American liberty. We, the undersigned, stand united in demanding that the Senate uphold this right without compromise. The time for bold action is now.
Signed,
First Name, Last Name
State
Gun Club/Organization/Elected Office (if applicable)
