
Donald Trump may soon revoke a nearly century-old firearms law, sparking widespread reaction.
The president has suggested he could eliminate a 91-year-old regulation on firearm suppressors, originally enacted to combat gang violence during the Prohibition era.
This development follows Trump’s earlier decision during his first term to end a 20-year ban on selling suppressors to non-US citizens. That restriction had been in place since 2002 to prevent terror organizations from acquiring American-made silencers.
The Trump administration argues that lifting firearm restrictions benefits American manufacturers and aligns with the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
Last month, Trump instructed newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi to review federal gun laws and identify any improper restrictions, particularly those implemented under the Biden administration, according to The Reload.
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Biden’s gun control measures introduced stricter background checks for buyers under 21, funding for “red flag” laws to remove firearms from individuals deemed a threat, and the closing of the “boyfriend loophole” to prohibit those convicted of domestic abuse from owning guns.
Gun-rights advocates see Trump’s latest move as a sign that he is accelerating efforts to remove suppressor restrictions, which some believe are long overdue, as reported by Cowboy State Daily.
Suppressors, which are attached to rifles, work by trapping blast pressure and gasses at the muzzle, reducing gunshot noise by 20 to 35 decibels, according to the NRA Hunter’s Leadership Forum.
Adam Ashmore told The Daily Mail that while his AR-15 normally produces a loud crack when fired, using a suppressor lowers the sound to a level barely louder than a .22 rimfire rifle.
He explained that contrary to popular belief shaped by movies, suppressors do not make firearms completely silent.