Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear an Army veteran’s case challenging federal regulations on gun suppressors, some second amendment advocates fear the Trump administration has turned its back on them.
The high court rejected a case asking why gun suppressors -- commonly referred to as silencers -- are included in the National Firearms Act.
“Suppressors are actually firearm accessories and not firearms themselves, even though for purposes of the National Firearms Act, the legislation has defined them as firearms,” says T. Edwin Walker, an attorney with Texas Law Shield.
Walker argues the law on suppressors is really a tax, adding that anyone can apply for one and more than 1.5 million people own one.
“You have to fill out the paperwork and pay the $200 tax,” he says.“Once the ATF approves your paperwork and issues you the tax cut, then you’re lawful to possess the suppressor that you applied for.”
Walker insists suppressors are a safety feature that protect your ears, something President Donald Trump's own son was pushing.
“Donald Trump had the opportunity to push for the deregulation of suppressors and he didn’t do it, and since the Virginia Beach thing has happened, he appears to have done a complete 180.”
“Pro-gun folks would hope that he’s not actively hostile toward suppressors the same way he was on bump stocks,” he says.“That’s why I think the Justice Department was advocating to the Supreme Court that they don’t take the case.”
But he says keeping the law the same is much different that actively trying to outlaw suppressors like the administration did with bump stocks.