Hearing Protection Act

This bill changes how firearm silencers (also called mufflers) are handled under federal law. It removes silencers from the National Firearms Act rules and treats them like other firearms under the normal federal system, instead of the special NFA process. People who get a silencer by following the usual federal gun rules are considered to have met any past NFA paperwork for that silencer . It also orders the Attorney General to destroy existing federal silencer registration and transfer records within a year of the law taking effect . States and local governments could not add extra taxes (beyond normal sales/use tax) or special marking, record, or registration rules for silencers that are part of interstate or foreign commerce .

The bill updates definitions and marking rules. It defines what counts as a silencer or muffler, including the outer tube, and requires licensed makers and importers to put a serial number on that main part (with a process to ask for a different marking spot if needed) . It also adds a 10% federal excise tax on silencers when sold by the manufacturer, producer, or importer, with conforming changes to the tax code . Most changes start 90 days after the law is enacted; record destruction must happen within 365 days .

• Who is affected: Buyers, sellers, makers, and importers of firearm silencers/mufflers .
• What changes:
  • Silencers are removed from NFA treatment; standard federal gun rules apply instead, and prior NFA paperwork for silencers is treated as met if you comply with those rules .
  • States and localities cannot add special silencer taxes (other than normal sales/use tax) or extra marking/record/registration rules tied to interstate or foreign commerce .
  • Federal records about silencer registrations and certain applications must be destroyed within a year .
  • Silencers must be serial-numbered by licensed makers/importers; the definition of “silencer” is clarified, including key parts like the outer tube .
  • A 10% federal excise tax applies to silencers at the manufacturer/importer level .
• When:
  • Most changes and the new tax apply starting in the first calendar quarter more than 90 days after enactment; record destruction must occur within 365 days of enactment .