BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced that Idahoans can now buy suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns without registration, lengthy waits, or federal taxes.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued guidance on Friday indicating that it will stop enforcing those requirements nationwide, following the court victory Idaho won with 14 other states in Silencer Shop Foundation, et al. v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives.

The National Firearms Act has required federal approval, registration, and a $200 tax for these firearms since 1934. Courts had upheld the registration rules as a method to collect that tax.  However, when Congress eliminated the tax itself in the One Big Beautiful Bill. Idaho argued the registration requirements could not stand alone. On August 5th a federal court in Texas agreed.

That ruling initially protected only the parties who sued and their members and customers (Silencer Shop customers, Gun Owners of America members, Idaho’s state agencies like Idaho State Police, etc.), leaving other Idaho gun owners under the old rules. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to appeal, and Friday’s guidance extends the result to gun owners nationwide.

“I have defended the Second Amendment in the Idaho Legislature, in Congress, and as Attorney General,” said Attorney General Labrador. “For more than 90 years, the federal government made law-abiding citizens ask permission, pay a tax, and wait months to exercise their constitutional rights. Idaho sued, Idaho won, and the ATF’s guidance means that victory now belongs to every gun owner in our state.”

Buyers for firearms, suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns still must complete the ATF Form 4473 and a background check. Online orders must ship to a Federal Firearm License (FFL) dealer within the state of residence for the purchaser, and FFL dealers also may not sell or transfer any item in violation of state or local law.  The Idaho Constitution forbids any firearm registration by state or local government. 

The guidance is an enforcement policy that the ATF says could be reversed. Firearms left unregistered would not be automatically protected if that happens, and the ATF still accepts voluntary registrations. In September, Attorney General Labrador joined 20 other attorneys general in urging Congress to repeal these provisions permanently.

Idaho gun dealers and owners should read the ATF’s FAQs at: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/update-to-nfa-transfer-guidance before buying or transferring these firearms or seek a private attorney for more questions.