Judge Strikes Down 92-Year-Old Silencer Restriction — No ATF Registration, No Form 4, No Permission Slip From the Feds
Gun rights advocates are celebrating a monumental victory for the Second Amendment after a Trump-appointed federal judge ruled key National Firearms Act restrictions unconstitutional, and the Trump Justice Department is refusing to appeal.
Two gun owners walked out of Silencer Shop in Leander, Texas, with suppressors without completing the federal registration and approval process that has controlled such transfers since 1934.
According to Gun Owners of America, these were the first lawful commercial suppressor transfers without NFA registration in 92 years.
🚨BREAKING🚨
It's official! @SilencerShop completed the first lawful, unregistered suppressor transfer since June 26th, 1934.@TheAKGuy's purchase was approved & @WesVirdellTX skipped the background check with his concealed carry permit. This is One Big Beautiful Victory. 🇺🇸🔫 https://t.co/5cyDgVWeM9 pic.twitter.com/grhXqpMjJV
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) August 13, 2026
“This is the first time in 92 years that any gun owner has been able to do this,” Aidan Johnston, GOA’s director of federal affairs, declared. “Previously, this would have been punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine per violation. So, this was a big federal law. We took a really big bite out of it.”
The recipients were GOA members Brandon Herrera and Texas state Rep. Wes Virdell. GOA and Silencer Shop had formally notified the Trump administration, the Justice Department, and the ATF of their plans. Federal authorities did not object.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), who authored the legislation that zeroed out the NFA tax and was present for the historic transfers, confirmed the Justice Department is not expected to appeal the decision. Clyde later announced he had received direct confirmation from the Trump administration that the DOJ would not challenge the ruling.