Introduced to eliminate the BATF from being involved with the tax stamp and processing of suppressors.

H.R. 3799





To provide that silencers be treated the same as long guns.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. Short title.


This Act may be cited as the “Hearing Protection Act of 2015”.

SEC. 2. Equal treatment of silencers and firearms.


(a) In general.—Section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking “(7) any silencer” and all that follows through “; and (8)” and inserting “; and (7)”.

(b) Effective date.—


(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.


(2) TRANSFERS.—In the case of the tax imposed by section 5811 of such Code, the amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to transfers after October 22, 2015.

SEC. 3. Treatment of certain silencers.


Section 5841 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:




“(f) Firearm silencers.—A person acquiring or possessing a firearm silencer in accordance with Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, shall be treated as meeting any registration and licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this subsection) with respect to such silencer.”.

SEC. 4. Preemption of certain State laws in relation to firearm silencers.


Section 927 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a law of a State or a political subdivision of a State that, as a condition of lawfully making, transferring, using, possessing, or transporting a firearm silencer in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, imposes a tax on any such conduct, or a marking, recordkeeping or registration requirement with respect to the firearm silencer, shall have no force or effect.”.


11/23/2015 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Type of Action: Committee Consideration
Action By: House Judiciary

I like the idea of this bill with 1 exception. Some states it is illegal possess a suppressor without the over reaching federal law.
same with ar-15 / AK style sport rifles unless they are SBR. This is the case in MD.

Ah the People's Republic of Maryland. They do have issues there.

Maryland the OAL cannot be under 29inches as well, however, you can still get ARs, they need to heavy barrel and cannot have more than 2 features from a list