Gun Owners of America

GOA recently left a meeting with Sen. Steve Daines, and he told GOA this exciting news first…

He’s made sure that the Senate version of President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” removes the excise taxes on:

 Suppressors 
 Short-barreled rifles 
 Short-barreled shotguns 
 Any Other Weapons (AOWs) 

This is a HUGE step in GOA’s fight to restore your Second Amendment rights and strikes a major blow to the draconian NFA! But as you know, the job is not finished yet.

Last month, the House took action and included language in H.R. 1, which removed the unlawful $200 tax stamp and suppressor registration requirement—although unfortunately, they will still be subject to NICS background checks.   

Regardless, while this is a great first step, it’s not enough. We need to remove the NFA taxes on short-barreled firearms, too.

And that’s why GOA has been fighting hard to get the Senate to fully repeal these NFA taxes, as well.

Can we count on your support? Please chip in $15, $25, $50, or any other amount you can support. GOA is on Capitol Hill fighting to protect OUR rights. This might be one of our last opportunities to repeal this provision.

We can’t forget — the Biden administration abused this tax to justify its unconstitutional pistol brace rule, targeting up to 40 million legally owned firearms and criminalizing gun owners overnight. 

Senate Republicans now have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to end this abuse permanently. Including the tax repeal on short-barreled firearms in the budget reconciliation bill would fulfill campaign promises and strike a blow against one of the most sweeping anti-gun infringements. 

This is our moment. We can gut the NFA. We can secure lasting protections for gun owners nationwide. But it won’t happen without your pressure. 

Please don’t wait. Time is of the essence.

Finally, please take a moment to add your name to our urgent petition urging Senators to repeal the NFA’s short-barrel tax restrictions, to protect suppressor owners once and for all.

P.S. Click here to see a video of my interview with Senator Steve Daines.

GOA Secures Major Senate Victory: NFA Tax Repeal Advances in “One Big Beautiful Bill” 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 16, 2025 

Washington, D.C. – Gun Owners of America (GOA) is celebrating a massive legislative victory as the Senate Finance Committee officially advanced language to fully repeal the unconstitutional excise taxes imposed under the National Firearms Act (NFA). 

Thanks to aggressive advocacy from GOA and mounting grassroots pressure, the Senate’s version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” now includes full repeal of the $200 NFA tax on: 

• Suppressors 

• Short-barreled rifles (SBRs) 

• Short-barreled shotguns (SBSs) 

• “Any Other Weapons” (AOWs) 

This expands the House-passed repeal of the suppressor tax and represents one of the most significant advances for gun rights in decades. The bill next heads to the “Byrd Bath” review, where non-budgetary provisions may be stripped, but because the NFA operates primarily as a tax mechanism — given that the Supreme Court held that the NFA is primarily a tax in Sonzinky v. U.S. (1937) — GOA feels strongly that the provision ought to survive. 

GOA has identified several minor drafting issues and is actively working with lawmakers to ensure they are corrected before final passage. 

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“The House opened the door—now the Senate is charging through it. The American people have been forced to pay hundreds of dollars and submit to federal gun registration just to own firearms that are protected by the Second Amendment. That ends now. This is a monumental step toward dismantling the ATF’s unconstitutional enforcement regime, and the Senate must finish the job.” 

Aidan Johnston, GOA’s Director of Federal Affairs, issued the following statement: 

“The Senate Finance Committee’s move to fully repeal the unconstitutional and archaic National Firearms Act tax on short-barreled firearms and suppressors is the direct result of relentless pressure from GOA’s grassroots and our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. The government has no right to tax and register accessories like suppressors or firearms with short barrels. This is a generational win for the Second Amendment community.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization representing over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center. 

-GOA- 

We come to you with concerning information about HB 143.

With the help of our allies at New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, it has come to our attention that wording from a previously defeated bill, SB 23, has been resurrected and added to HB 143.

The wording of HB 143 now pertains to child endangerment.

In short, the wording of this bill is too expansive, and it leaves significant gaps that WILL be used to harm gun owners if it were to pass.

To quote one section of our legal analysis on HB 143:

“The addition of section IV-a, could lead to a de facto safe storage law, because if someone has a loaded firearm that is not “secured” and there are children or incompetents around, you could possibly be in violation of 639.3(IV-a) and guilty of a felony. Your only recourse would be to have your firearms secured at all times, leaving you vulnerable during a self-defense situation where you would need quick access to it.”

To see our full legal analysis on HB 143, click here.

We encourage you to review this document to gain a better understanding of the negative impacts that HB 143 will have.

The report will be heard on June 26th! Using the form above, make sure to send a message to your legislators to reject the Committee of Conference report on HB 143!

Industry Titans to Headline GOALS Panel on Firearm Innovation and the Future of 2A Technology 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 12, 2025 

Washington, D.C. – Gun Owners of America (GOA) is proud to announce an exclusive panel at the 2025 Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit (GOALS), featuring some of the most influential figures in the firearms industry. This high-powered discussion will explore the cutting edge of Second Amendment product development and the future of firearms innovation. 

Panelists include Jamin McCallum (CEO, Palmetto State Armory), Pete Brownell (CEO, Brownells), Bob Faxon (President, Faxon Firearms), Adam Ruonala (VP of Marketing & Development, Century Arms), and Issac Botkin (Chief Visionary Officer, T.Rex Arms). Together, they’ll offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the industry’s leading companies continue to thrive—covering everything from market research and patent strategy to navigating economic headwinds and forecasting future trends. 

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“The Second Amendment is not just a political issue—it’s an engine for American innovation. These leaders represent the best of our industry, and this panel will show how entrepreneurial vision and constitutional rights go hand-in-hand. We’re thrilled to give GOALS attendees an insider look at where the firearm industry is headed.” 

John Fahrner, Deputy Director of Corporate Relations for Gun Owners of America, added: 

“This panel is a must-see for builders, brands, and everyday enthusiasts. These companies are pushing the envelope on design, technology, and freedom—and their stories reflect the resilience and creativity that define the 2A community. We’re proud to host a conversation that celebrates both innovation and liberty.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization representing over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center. 

-GOA- 

GOA Pressure to Restore Concealed Carry Reciprocity Between Pennsylvania and Virginia a Success

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

June 10, 2025 

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday reestablished concealed carry reciprocity with the Commonwealth of Virginia, ending a 7-year moratorium on recognizing Virginia concealed handgun permits (CHPs). 

The memorandum of agreement was signed on June 9, 2025 between Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, overturning former PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s decision to unilaterally end Pennsylvania’s recognition of Virginia CHPs in April of 2018. 

Gun Owners of America’s (GOA’s) Pennsylvania Director Dr. Val Finnell and legal counsel Gilbert Ambler, Esq. met with Attorney General Dave Sunday in April of this year. Part of the discussion at that meeting was to inform the Attorney General of the errors in then-AG Shapiro’s reasoning for unilaterally revoking concealed carry reciprocity with Virginia. 

“This is great news for the 718,000 CHP holders in the Commonwealth of Virginia. No longer will Virginians be treated as second class citizens when they travel to Pennsylvania. They will be able to exercise their constitutional right to keep and bear arms once more,” said Dr. Val Finnell, Pennsylvania Director of Gun Owners of America. 

Gun Owners of America was joined by the Virginia Citizens Defense League in the effort to reestablish concealed carry reciprocity between the two states. 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.  

### 

Senator Roger Marshall, the lead co-sponsor of the SHORT Act, just gave GOA kudos for leading the fight for your Second Amendment rights — no compromise.

That’s right. GOA’s relentless grassroots pressure helped secure a massive win in the House: the Hearing Protection Act, which guts parts of the NFA, was added to President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

That’s right. GOA’s relentless grassroots pressure helped secure a massive win in the House: the Hearing Protection Act, which guts parts of the NFA, was added to President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

So, for suppressors, that means no more $200 tax stamps. No more government registration. And no more gun owner databases!

But we’re not done yet.

GOA is now turning up the heat on the U.S. Senate to add the SHORT Act — a bill that would obliterate the NFA’s unconstitutional restrictions on short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapons.

FIGHT FOR THE SHORT ACT 

Why does this matter? Because Biden’s ATF already tried to criminalize millions of Americans by reclassifying pistol braces as SBRs. If we don’t kill the NFA’s power now, imagine what the next anti-gunner-in-chief would try to pull.

If we don’t act fast, the SHORT Act could be excluded from the final version of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. 

But we need your help to launch a full-scale lobbying blitz to ensure the SHORT Act is included in the final bill.

Your donation will help us flood the Senate with phone calls and letters to finish what we started — and make sure the NFA is never again used as a weapon against law-abiding gun owners.

DONATE NOW 

And if you haven’t already, click here to send a pre-written letter urging your senator to include the SHORT Act in the final version of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

You did it!

On June 9, 2025, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday signed a memorandum of agreement with Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, ending the 7-year moratorium on Pennsylvania recognizing Virginia concealed handgun permits (CHPs). The agreement was effective immediately.

No longer will the 718K Virginia CHP holders be considered second-class citizens when traveling to or through Pennsylvania. They will now be able to exercise their constitutionally-protected rights without requiring a Pennsylvania non-resident license to carry firearms.

In April of 2018, then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro unilaterally ended Virginia concealed carry reciprocity, a purely anti-gun move without any justification. Virginians were faced with either getting a Pennsylvania non-resident license or face criminal prosecution if they carried their concealed firearm in PA.

To correct this injustice, I met with PA Attorney General Dave Sunday in April of this year along with GOA’s legal counsel, Gilbert Ambler, Esq. One of the chief topics of that meeting was restoring Virginia reciprocity, and we detailed the reasons why then-AG Shapiro’s decision was wrong.

But the story doesn’t end there. I can’t accomplish anything without the backing of GOA’s members and supporters. So, I sent out an alert on June 2nd to pressure Dave Sunday to restore Virginia reciprocity and to get behind HR 38 in Congress.

Your efforts worked! Thousands of your emails and phone calls poured into Dave Sunday’s office, and he got the message. Just a week later, AG Sunday signed the new concealed carry reciprocity agreement with Virginia. 

I also want to thank Virginia Citizens Defense League President Phil Van Cleave for writing his own letter to AG Sunday. This letter proved to be invaluable to our joint effort to reestablish concealed carry reciprocity.

So, please take a moment to send a thank you message to Attorney General Dave Sunday (by using the form above) and encourage him to keep up the good work by signing a letter of support for HR 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act in Congress.

GOA Rallies Media Allies and Influencers to Demand Senate Action on Suppressor and SBR Reform 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 10, 2025 

Washington, D.C. — Gun Owners of America (GOA), joined by over 40 prominent media voices, influencers, and Second Amendment organizations representing a combined audience of more than one billion monthly viewers, has sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo demanding immediate pro-gun action in the upcoming reconciliation package. 

The coalition is urging the Senate to adopt two key reforms: 

1. Section 3 of the Hearing Protection Act, which ensures that gun owners in anti-gun states are protected when purchasing suppressors in accordance with federal law. 

1. The Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act, which would eliminate the unconstitutional National Firearms Act (NFA) tax and registry requirements for short-barreled rifles and shotguns. 

While the House’s inclusion of Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act was a positive step, omitting Section 3 would continue to leave millions of gun owners vulnerable to criminal prosecution in states that defy federal preemption. The inclusion of the SHORT Act would likewise deal a final blow to the ATF’s war on pistol braces and restore constitutional protections for popular firearms targeted by the NFA’s arbitrary barrel length rules. 

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“The House opened the door—now the Senate must walk through it. The inclusion of Section 3 of the Hearing Protection Act and the full SHORT Act is essential to restoring the rights of law-abiding Americans and rolling back unconstitutional mandates that the ATF has used for decades to harass gun owners. The time to act is now.” 

Aidan Johnston, Director of Federal Affairs for Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dismantle the worst parts of the NFA and protect millions of gun owners from outdated, abusive laws. GOA is proud to lead this coalition, and we’re calling on Senate Republicans to finish the job and deliver for the grassroots.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center. 

-GOA- 

The resurrected “Assault Weapons” ban we alerted you to last week has unfortunately passed the House and is on its way to the Senate.

We’d like to reiterate that this fight isn’t over yet, and we can’t lay off even for a moment if we expect to hold the line on keeping semi-automatic firearms legal in Rhode Island.

This bill includes much more than just firearm bans. To directly quote House Minority Leader Chippendale’s press release from June 3rd:

“The bill also places an unfunded mandate on local police departments, requiring them to implement a so-called “voluntary certification” program. But let’s be honest – there is nothing voluntary about it. If a citizen is found in possession of a “grandfathered” firearm without this certificate, they will be subject to criminal penalties. That’s not voluntary – that’s coerced compliance.”

It was also brought to our attention through House Minority Leader Chippendale’s testimony, that H 5436 would devastate the sporting clay industry in Rhode Island, as it includes bans on all semi-automatic shotguns with threaded chokes.

Stopping H 5436 will be an immense effort, and we need you to continue hitting the phonelines to DEMAND your legislators stop it from passing.

When speaking to a Senator or their staff, you can say something like this:

“Hello, my name is [NAME] and I’m from [TOWN/CITY]. I’m a member of Gun Owners of America and a Rhode Island voter and I encourage you to vote NO on H 5436 when it comes up for a vote. Gun Owners of America will keep me informed of how you vote.”

This bill may be called up in the Senate Judiciary Committee before it heads to the floor. The list of committee members can be seen here:

​Senator Matthew L. LaMountain – (401) 206-0822

Senator Mark ​McKenney – (401) 578-6258

Senator Jacob E. Bissaillon – (401) 442-6973

Senator John P. Burke – (401) 374-4721

Senator Andrew R. Dimitri – (401) 276-5563

Senator Dawn Euer – (401) 276-5561

Senator Thomas J. Paolino – (401) 222-2708

Senator Todd M. Patalano – (401) 276-5592

Senator Ana B. Quezada – (401) 255-0345

Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis – (401) 276-5567

You can find your State Senator by using this tool from the Rhode Island Department of State: Find my legislator. If you already know who your legislator is, you can use the Senate directory found here: State Senate of Rhode Island.

Reach out to your Senators immediately using the form above and demand that they STOP H 5436!

One thing in life is certain: When a member of Congress sees a phone call come through from a GOA member, they panic.

After the House of Representatives got a nonstop earful from gun owners like you, we scored a major win. Just take a look at what Braden Langley had to say about our victory.

The GOA-backed Hearing Protection Act was added to President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1).

That means:

• No more $200 tax stamps
• No more government registration
• No more databases tracking law-abiding gun owners

But we’re not stopping there.

Your God-given right to keep and bear arms is not a “privilege” – and when Congress finally does one thing right, it’s not some grand favor to gun owners. It’s exactly what the Constitution requires that they do!

That’s why GOA is launching another grassroots advocacy campaign to further gut the NFA by forcing the Senate to add the SHORT Act to the reconciliation bill.

The SHORT Act – Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today – would remove short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and Any Other Weapons (AOWs) from the NFA.

I’ll tell you why that’s so important…

Joe Biden’s ATF already reclassified pistol braces as SBRs, which was a backdoor attempt to force millions of lawful gun owners into NFA registration or risk becoming felons overnight.

I’m sure you can imagine a future President Gavin Newsom taking Biden’s abuse even further – expanding NFA definitions to criminalize millions more overnight.

But if the SHORT Act gets added to President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” there would be no NFA effectively left to weaponize against gun owners.

That’s why we need gun owners like YOU to bombard your Senators with phone calls urging them to add the SHORT Act into H.R. 1.

Call your Senators at (202) 224-3121.

Or, if you’d rather speak directly with the Senate Finance Committee, you can reach them at (202) 224-4515.

GOA will not rest until the NFA has been entirely ripped to shreds, and your God-given rights are restored.

To help us finish the job, please consider making a contribution to our 2A Defense Fund.

A Trojan Horse for Gun Control:
The ATF-DEA Merger Must Be Stopped

The White House has just proposed a dangerous plan to merge the ATF and the DEA. This isn’t about streamlining government—it’s a Trojan Horse that threatens our Second Amendment rights like never before.

What This Merger Could Mean for Gun Owners

X A Bigger, More Powerful ATF:

The merger would triple the ATF’s budget and quadruple its tactical units, creating a supercharged agency with even less oversight and accountability.

X Increased Threats to Your Rights:

A combined ATF-DEA would have over 10,000 new employees, amplifying the potential for overreach, harassment, and unconstitutional actions against gun owners.

X A Step Toward Gun Control:

This isn’t about abolishing the ATF. It’s about empowering it to further infringe on your God-given right to keep and bear arms.

GOA has fought the ATF’s overreach for decades, from their illegal gun registry to their attacks on law-abiding gun dealers.

We won’t stand idly by while this merger threatens to create a monster agency that could further erode our freedoms, but we need your help to stop it.

Sign the petition, urging the White House NOT to merge the ATF and the DEA into one agency.

The ATF has a long history of targeting law-abiding Americans, shutting down gun stores for minor clerical errors, surveilling pro-gun communities, and even resorting to violence against citizens. Merging it with the DEA only makes it stronger and harder to hold accountable. We can’t let this happen.

Click here to sign the pre-written letter to the White House and help GOA defeat the ATF-DEA merger.

SIGN THE LETTER

Your Activism is Working — Now Let’s Finish the Job!

Call the Senate Finance Committee at (202) 224-4515 to save pistol-braced firearms.

NOTE: Don’t hesitate to leave a message if you’re transferred to an answering machine.

Thanks to the LOUD and relentless voices of GOA members and grassroots activists like you, the House recently passed a major pro-gun victory.

This is What YOUR Activism Accomplished!

H.R. 1, the budget reconciliation bill, includes the full Hearing Protection Act — which completely REMOVES suppressors from the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA).

No more $200 tax stamps
No more government registration
No more databases tracking law-abiding gun owners

This is the freedom we’ve been fighting for. And we’re not stopping here.

The next battle? The SHORT Act — a GOA-backed bill to eliminate ALL federal restrictions on short-barreled rifles, shotguns, and “any other weapons” (AOWs).

If this language is added to H.R. 1, we can take another sledgehammer to the NFA.

But we need your help RIGHT NOW.

Call the Senate Finance Committee at 202-228-0554 to push for the SHORT Act language to be included in H.R. 1. Hearing from constituents will show the committee they have tremendous support from gun owners across the nation!

H.R. 1 is now in the Senate Finance Committee. And this committee is THE ONE committee that can easily include this language into H.R. 1.

Once this is done, we will only need 51 votes — a simple majority — to pass this on the Senate floor. No filibuster. No excuses.

Why it matters: Joe Biden weaponized the NFA to ban millions of pistol-braced firearms. The SHORT Act would end that abuse of power once and for all.

Here’s what you can do:

• Call the Senate Finance Committee—at (202) 224-4515—and urge them to insert the SHORT Act into H.R. 1
• Share this alert with every gun owner you know
• Chip in to help GOA keep up the pressure on Capitol Hill

Your calls made a huge difference on the House side. Now let’s take action in the Senate and finish tearing down the NFA. Please call now.

GOA Celebrates Supreme Court Smackdown of Mexican Gun Control Lawsuit: “A Massive Victory for U.S. Sovereignty and the Second Amendment” 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 5, 2025 

Washington, D.C. – Gun Owners of America (GOA), alongside Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) and a nationwide coalition of Second Amendment advocates, is celebrating today’s 9-0 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court rejecting the Mexican government’s radical attempt to sue American gun manufacturers for cartel violence fueled by Mexico’s own failed disarmament policies. 

The case, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, marked an unprecedented effort by a foreign government to hold lawful U.S. businesses liable for criminal acts committed entirely outside the United States. GOA previously filed an amicus brief urging the Court to dismiss the case as a dangerous affront to American sovereignty and gun rights. 

In its unanimous opinion, the Court held that Mexico’s lawsuit “attempts an end-run around the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA),” and affirmed that American gun makers cannot be held liable for the criminal misuse of firearms by third parties—especially foreign cartels. 

But buried in the ruling is what may be the most consequential Second Amendment dicta from the Court in years. Writing for the Court, Justice Kagan noted that Mexico specifically targeted “military style” assault weapons—such as AR-15s and AK-47s—and .50 caliber rifles, but emphasized that “those products are both widely legal and bought by many ordinary consumers.” The opinion further highlights that “the AR–15 is the most popular rifle in the country.” 

This is a game-changing acknowledgment. For the first time in Supreme Court history, the justices have plainly stated what gun owners have always known: the AR-15 is in common use and legally protected. With Justice Kavanaugh already signaling the Court’s readiness to hear an AR-15 case, this dicta sends a clear message to lower courts and anti-gun states—bans on America’s most popular rifle are on borrowed time. 

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“This ruling is a powerful reminder that Americans don’t answer to globalists or foreign governments. Mexico’s gun control dystopia has empowered cartels and disarmed the innocent—and now they want to export that disaster to the U.S. The Supreme Court just told them: ‘Not on our soil.’” 

Aidan Johnston, GOA’s Federal Affairs Director, issued the following statement: 

“This is a massive victory for the Second Amendment and American sovereignty. The Mexican government—whose citizens are disarmed and whose officials are often complicit in cartel crime—tried to scapegoat U.S. gun companies for its own failure to secure its borders and protect its people. GOA proudly filed an amicus brief defending our industry and our rights, and we’re grateful the Supreme Court saw through this baseless attempt to erode constitutional protections by foreign influence.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization representing over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center. 

-GOA- 

 

The “Assault Weapons” ban, which was heard yesterday, advanced from the House Judiciary Committee and is scheduled for a full vote before the House on Thursday, June 5th.

This fight isn’t over yet, and we can’t lay off even for a moment if we expect our Second Amendment rights to survive.

Our efforts to stop this bill have been immense, and we need you to continue hitting the phonelines to DEMAND your legislators stop H 5436 from passing.

When speaking to a Representative or their staff, you can say something like this:

“Hello, my name is [NAME] and I’m from [TOWN/CITY]. I’m a member of Gun Owners of America and a Rhode Island voter and I encourage you to vote NO on H 5436 when it comes up for a vote on June 5th. Gun Owners of America will keep me informed of how you vote.”

You can find your State Representative by using this tool from the Rhode Island Department of State: Find my legislator. If you already know who your legislator is, you can use the House directory found here: State of Rhode Island General Assembly.

Reach out to your legislators immediately using the form above and demand that they STOP H 5436!

The Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee is preparing to hear a dangerous package of anti-gun bills that would trample on your Second Amendment rights and criminalize law-abiding citizens.

All of these bills are currently in committee, backed by a coordinated effort from anti-gun lawmakers including Sens. Mallory McMorrow, Dayna Polehanki, Rosemary Bayer, Stephanie Chang, Paul Wojno, Veronica Klinefelt, and others.

GOA strongly opposes these bills and will be monitoring the hearing closely. We need you to get involved: contact your senator today and tell them to vote NO on this anti-gun package. Let them know Michigan gun owners are watching and we will hold them accountable.

Here is the legislation being discussed:

• SB 224: Accessory Ban

GOA Position: Oppose

Current Status: in the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee

Sponsored by Dayna Polehanki

Co-sponsors Stephanie Chang, Paul Wojno, Mallory McMorrow, Veronica Klinefelt, Rosemary Bayer

Senate Bill 224 Senate Bill 224 would make it a felony in Michigan to possess, manufacture, or sell suppressors and bump stocks

• SB 225: Gun Free Zones

GOA Position: Oppose

Current Status: in the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee

Sponsored by Dayna Polehanki

Co-sponsors Stephanie Chang, Paul Wojno, Mallory McMorrow, Veronica Klinefelt, Rosemary Bayer

Senate Bill 225 expands gun-free zones in Michigan by adding several new locations where even concealed pistol license (CPL) holders are prohibited from carrying. These now include the Michigan Capitol, legislative office buildings, college dorms and classrooms, and large entertainment venues. Violations carry escalating penalties, from civil fines and CPL suspensions to felony charges.

• SB 226: Carry Restrictions

GOA Position: Oppose

Current Status: in the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee

Sponsored by Rosemary Bayer

Co-sponsors Dayna Polehanki, Stephanie Chang, Paul Wojno, Mallory McMorrow, Veronica Klinefelt

Senate Bill 226 Prohibits possession of a firearm within 100 feet from any absent voter ballot drop box.

• SB 331: “Ghost Gun” Ban

GOA Position: Oppose

Current Status: in the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee

Sponsored by Mallory McMorrow

Co-sponsors Dayna Polehanki, Sue Shink, Stephanie Chang, Jeff Irwin, Paul Wojno, Rosemary Bayer, Veronica Klinefelt, Mary Cavanagh

Senate Bill 331 would make it illegal to make, sell, or even own a homemade gun (often called a “ghost gun”) in Michigan if it doesn’t have a serial number. It also bans certain gun parts and 3D-printed firearms unless they’re registered and serialized. People who build more than five firearms a year, or use tools like 3D printers to make guns, would need a federal license. Violating this law could lead to jail time and heavy fines. GOA opposes this bill because it targets law-abiding gun owners and criminalizes private firearm builds that have been legal for centuries.

• SB 332: “Ghost Gun” Criminal Penalties

GOA Position: Oppose

Current Status: in the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee

Sponsored by Mallory McMorrow

Co-sponsors Dayna Polehanki, Sue Shink, Stephanie Chang, Jeff Irwin, Paul Wojno, Rosemary Bayer, Veronica Klinefelt, Mary Cavanagh

Senate Bill 332 sets the punishment for gun control offenses created by SB 331. If passed, it would allow the state to send gun owners to prison for up to 15 years for things like owning a homemade gun without a serial number or failing to follow strict new storage laws. It makes sure that Michigan’s attempt to ban “ghost guns” and other private builds comes with harsh criminal penalties. GOA opposes SB 332 because it criminalizes responsible gun owners and backs up unconstitutional restrictions with felony-level consequences.

Byrd Argument #1 – The National Firearms Act of 1934 Is a Transfer and Manufacturing Tax.

Back in 1934, both the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee described H.R. 9741 as follows:[i]

• “Section 1… defines the firearms subject to the taxing provisions of the bill.”
• “Section 3(a) imposes a transfer tax of $200 per firearm on the transfer thereof in the continental United States. Such tax is to be in addition to import taxes and paid by the transferor and is to be evidenced by stamps affixed to the order for transfer.”
• “Section 4(a) makes it unlawful for any person to transfer a firearm except in pursuance of a written order from the transferee.”

Silencers and short-barreled firearms are not per se regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934. Instead, the manufacture, import, and transfer is taxed and recorded. The only “crimes” that can be committed under the NFA are tax and record keeping crimes—by not affixing the required tax stamp to a transfer order prior to transfer. The NFA was not drafted in 1934 as a direct regulatory policy but rather as an excise tax. Today, JCT estimates the ten-year cost of eliminating the tax at $1.7 billion for suppressors and $295 million for short-barreled firearms—a clear budgetary impact.

Byrd Argument #2 – Congress Redrafted the National Firearms Act as a Tax to Avoid Direct Regulation.

Back in 1934, Congress’ claimed authority to regulate NFA “firearms” was via a taxation regime. One Congressman explained the constitutionality of the legislation as follows: “I think that under the Constitution the United States has no jurisdiction to legislate in a police sense with respect to firearms… I think that the only possible way in which the United States can legislate is through its taxing power, which is an indirect method of approach, through its control over interstate commerce…’ In 1934, Congress clearly designed and intended the NFA as an exercise of its power to tax rather than an exercise of a direct regulatory power or a federal police power.

Byrd Argument #3 – The Supreme Court Held That the National Firearms Act Is Primarily an Excise Tax in 1937.

Sonzinsky v. U.S. (1937) affirmed what Congress intended, that the NFA is a tax. The Supreme Court held that the NFA did not cease to be a tax simply because it has secondary policy implications. The Supreme Court went on to affirm Sonzinsky in NFIB v. Sebelius (2012).[ii] Also, every subsequent federal court has also agreed that the NFA is primarily an exercise of Congress’ power to tax and that’s why it’s not unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.

• “[T]he statute is a valid exercise of the taxing power… [T]he fact that it incidentally accomplishes goals other than raising revenue does not undermine its constitutionality.”[iii]
• “[The NFA] is constitutional because it is ‘part of the web of regulation aiding enforcement of the transfer tax provision.’”[iv]
• “[O]n its face, the NFA is a taxing scheme. The statute collects occupational and excise taxes from businesses and transactions involving listed firearms—which include short-barreled rifles [and] silencers.”[v]

Byrd Argument #4 – Amending the Tax Code and Repealing Excise Taxes is Routine on Budget Reconciliation.

Sections which strike and insert language in the tax code may be regularly found in budget reconciliation bills.[vi] Furthermore, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes many amendments to federal excise taxes.[vii] And prior reconciliation bills such as the Inflation Reduction Act have also amended excise taxes too.[viii]

Byrd Argument #5 – Eliminating the Excise Tax Does Not Completely Deregulate Suppressors.

Even if silencers are removed from the NFA and no longer subject to registration and fingerprinting, the language does not completely deregulate silencers. Silencers will remain regulated as firearms under the Gun Control Act of 1968 and subject to different but similar paperwork, including background checks on commercial transfers and registration Forms 4473 for gun tracing purposes.

Byrd Argument #6 – NFA Requirements Like Fingerprinting and Registration Paperwork Are Part of the Tax.

During a Ways and Means Committee hearing on the NFA in 1934, one Representative asked, “[I]s it not the taxation power which provides the basis for requiring the registration of the firearms now owned and possessed?” Another Congressman replied, “Yes. In executing or administering the taxation provision it is important to be able to identify arms to see which possessors have paid taxes and which firearms have been taxed and which have not.” Courts have also held this to be the case, stating that “[the NFA requires] payment of a transfer tax and registration as an aid in collection of that tax…”[ix] Consequently, “[t]he NFA’s ‘taxation and registration’ requirements… have been upheld as a valid exercise of legislative taxing authority.”[x]

The NFA is primarily a tax. The Senate must not take “no” for an answer from the Parliamentarian. A vote to overrule the Senate Parliamentarian would certainly be justified given this overwhelming evidence.

[i] 73rd Congress. 2nd Session. H. Rept. 1780 and S. Rept. 1444 to accompany H.R. 9741.

[ii] “None of this is to say that the payment is not intended to affect individual conduct. Although the payment will raise considerable revenue, it is plainly designed to expand health insurance coverage.

But taxes that seek to influence conduct are nothing new. Some of our earliest federal taxes sought to deter the purchase of imported manufactured goods in order to foster the growth of domestic industry. Today, federal and state taxes can compose more than half the retail price of cigarettes, not just to raise more money, but to encourage people to quit smoking. And we have upheld such obviously regulatory measures as taxes on selling marijuana and sawed-off shotguns. See Sonzinsky v. United States, 300 U.S. 506, 513 (1937).

Indeed, “[e]very tax is in some measure regula-tory. To some extent it interposes an economic impediment to the activity taxed as compared with others not taxed.” Sonzinsky, supra, at 513. That §5000A seeks to shape decisions about whether to buy health insurance does not mean that it cannot be a valid exercise of the taxing power.”

[iii] United States v. Gresham, 118 F.3d 258, 262 (5th Cir. 1997).

[iv] United States v. Gresham, 118 F.3d 258, 262 (5th Cir. 1997).

[v] United States v. Cox, 906 F.3d 1170, 1179 (10th Cir. 2018).

[vi] https://www.congress.gov/amendment/117th-congress/senate-amendment/5472/text

[vii] EXAMPLES:

• 111106. Repeal of excise tax on indoor tanning services.
• 112021. Modification of excise tax on investment income of certain private colleges and universities.
• 112105. Excise tax on remittance transfers.

(as reported to the House Rules Committee)

[viii] EXAMPLES:

• 10201. Excise Tax on Repurchase of Corporate Stock.
• 11003. Excise Tax Imposed on Drug Manufacturers During Noncompliance Periods.
• 13101. Deficiency procedures not to apply [to] certain excise taxes.
• 13201. Coordination With Credit Against Excise Tax.
• 13204. Termination of Excise Tax Credit for Hydrogen.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5376/text

[ix] United States v. Lim, 444 F.3d 910, 913 (7th Cir. 2006).

[x] United States v. Rush, 130 F.4th 633 (7th Cir. 2025).

Some state statutes prohibit NFA firearms without compliance with federal law. Some of these states explicitly call for federal registration or possession of an NFA tax stamp in order to possess a suppressor or a short-barreled firearm at the state level. Therefore, GOA proposes the following conforming language:

(a) Ensuring minimal disruption to lawful ownership while eliminating the tax.—Section 5841 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

“(f) Requirements for National Firearms Act weapons determined by reference.—In the case of any registration or licensing requirement under State or local law with respect to a silencer, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or any other weapon (as defined in section 5845(e)) which is determined by reference to the National Firearms Act, any person who acquires or possesses such rifle, shotgun, or other weapon in accordance with chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, shall be treated as meeting any such registration or licensing requirement with respect to such silencer, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or any other weapon.”.

BYRD ARGUMENT #1 – This Language Is “Necessary and Conforming” to Avoid Unintended Consequences

The core intent of removing these firearms from the NFA is to eliminate the associated $200 tax and related paperwork per firearm, simplifying federal taxation and reducing burdens on gun owners. However, if this tax change inadvertently triggers state laws that ban these firearms (because some states tie their regulations to NFA status), it could accidently criminalize previously lawful possession. Congress intends to strike the tax on certain NFA firearms, not cause de facto gun bans at the state level.

This would undermine the purpose of the tax relief by creating new legal risks for gun owners. This language is necessary to protect gun owners in these states from criminal prosecution. This state protection is also necessary to preserve the intended effect of the tax change—relieving tax burdens without altering the legal status quo at the state level—making it directly tied to the budgetary provision. Furthermore, by preventing federal tax changes from unintentionally overriding state firearm laws, this tweak upholds state sovereignty.

BYRD ARGUMENT #2 – This Language Is “Necessary and Conforming” to Collect the Federal Arms Excise Tax in Certain States.

It is also necessary to protect the legality of the firearms to be taxed, which are currently legal at the state level and will become illegal. Currently, the federal government collects either a $5 or a $200 tax on NFA firearms. Once removed from the National Firearms Act, they will no longer qualify for an exemption from the Federal Arms Excise Tax at 26 U.S.C. 4182(a). Instead, they will be subject to a 10% Federal Arms Excise Tax under 26 U.S.C. 4181.

However, if removing certain firearms from the NFA results in a de facto ban at the state level, then this language is necessary to maintain their legality and thus allow the federal government to collect its 10% excise tax on each firearm manufactured.

NOTE FOR BOTH: These two tweaks are narrowly crafted to address only the direct fallout of removing the NFA tax, avoiding broader policy shifts. The state protections tweak prevents legal disruptions caused by the tax change, while the interstate transportation tweak ensures enforceability of existing laws post-tax removal. They do not introduce new firearm policies or regulations beyond what is required for smooth execution of the budgetary measure.

GOA & GOF File for Summary Judgment to Overturn Florida’s Open Carry Ban 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 3, 2025 

Washington, D.C. — Gun Owners of America (GOA), Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), and Florida resident Richard Hughes have filed a motion for summary judgment in their federal lawsuit challenging Florida’s unconstitutional ban on the open carry of firearms. 

This legal action seeks to have Florida Statute § 790.053(1), which criminalizes the open carry of handguns in public, declared unconstitutional. Plaintiffs argue that the ban blatantly violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments, especially following the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings in Heller, Bruen, and Rahimi. 

The case, Gun Owners of America v. Del Toro, is currently pending in the Southern District of Florida and represents a direct challenge to one of the few remaining open carry prohibitions in the country. If successful, the suit could restore open carry rights to millions of law-abiding Floridians. 

Sam Paredes, on behalf of the Board of Directors for Gun Owners Foundation, issued the following statement: 

“Florida’s open carry ban is an outdated and unconstitutional relic. The right to bear arms means exactly that—to carry arms, not just to keep them locked away. GOF and GOA are proud to stand with Floridians demanding their rights back, and we are confident the court will recognize the Second Amendment doesn’t stop at concealment.”  

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“This is a critical moment for Florida gun owners. The state’s ban on open carry has no basis in history or tradition and is flatly unconstitutional under Bruen. Floridians should not have to hide their right to bear arms under a shirt or jacket to avoid being arrested. We’re asking the court to end this infringement once and for all.” 

Luis Valdes, Florida State Director for Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“This case is personal for me and millions of gun owners across the Sunshine State. Florida likes to brand itself as pro-Second Amendment, but this ban proves otherwise. We are fighting to restore a right that never should’ve been taken away—and we won’t stop until every Floridian can carry openly, freely, and constitutionally.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center. 

-GOA- 

I know you’ve been following the news on HR 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. But did you know that there is a letter of support from 24 state attorneys general urging Congress to pass HR 38?

More importantly for Pennsylvanians, did you know that our Attorney General Dave Sunday is NOT one of the signatories on the letter?

AG Dave Sunday promised GOA members that he would work to expand concealed carry reciprocity agreements on his candidate survey, so it should have been a “no-brainer” for him to have signed onto the HR 38 letter of support.

I met with AG Sunday recently, and he assured me that his office was working on expanding concealed carry reciprocity agreements state by state. At that meeting, I emphasized the critical need to restore recognition for Virginia’s concealed carry permits, especially after then-Attorney General Shapiro unilaterally ended Pennsylvania’s reciprocity with Virginia.

This is an opportunity for AG Sunday to demonstrate his support for concealed carry reciprocity. Our right to defend ourselves and our families should not end at state lines. That’s why Dave Sunday needs to publicly declare his support for HR 38 and reestablish reciprocity with Virginia.

So, please take a moment to send a message to Dave Sunday (by using the form above), urging him to write his own letter of support for HR 38 and to quickly re-establish concealed carry reciprocity with Virginia.

You may have heard about HR 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would ensure that concealed carry permits are recognized nationwide in a manner similar to driver’s licenses.

Recently, 24 state attorneys general signed a letter encouraging Congress to pass HR 38.

But did you know that our Attorney General Jason Miyares is NOT one of the signatories on the letter?

This is a missed opportunity. During his campaign, Attorney General Miyares claimed support for the Second Amendment and pledged to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Supporting HR 38 would be consistent with those promises.

So, please use the form above to send a message to Jason Miyares, urging him to write his own letter of support for HR 38.