U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has joined a group of Senate Republicans in reintroducing the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act, legislation aimed at rolling back long-standing federal regulations on certain types of firearms, including short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
Backed by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), the bill seeks to remove short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and so-called “any other weapons” from the regulatory framework of the National Firearms Act (NFA) — a law in place since 1934 that requires registration, taxation, and additional scrutiny of these types of firearms.
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“For too long, unelected bureaucrats have misplaced their priorities by overregulating the use of firearms that Americans are legally entitled to own,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Every American has a right to bear arms to protect themselves and their families. I’m proud to join legislation that cuts red tape and protects law-abiding gun-owners.”
Sen. Marshall, the lead sponsor, framed the bill as a direct response to recent Biden administration enforcement actions.
“‘Shall not be infringed’ is crystal clear,” Marshall said. “The SHORT Act takes a step toward rolling back nonsensical regulations that the National Firearms Act has placed upon gun owners.”
The SHORT Act was reintroduced in response to a controversial move by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that classified pistols equipped with stabilizing braces as illegal short-barreled rifles — effectively subjecting them to NFA regulations.
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Critics, including gun rights groups, called the ATF rule a backdoor firearms registry. The SHORT Act would nullify such regulations and prohibit the federal government from requiring special registration or taxes for these firearms.
The SHORT Act would:
- Remove short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and “any other weapons” from the NFA’s definition of regulated firearms.
- Eliminate taxes and registration requirements tied to these firearms.
- Preempt state and local laws that attempt to impose separate taxes or regulations based on the federal NFA.
- Destroy all existing federal records relating to the manufacture, transfer, or registration of these weapons within one year of enactment.
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Tuberville and Marshall were joined by 11 Republican senators, including Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). In the U.S. House, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) is leading the companion legislation.
The bill has been endorsed by Gun Owners of America and the National Association for Gun Rights, two groups that have long advocated for dismantling federal firearms regulations.
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