WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) joined U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and their colleagues in introducing the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act. This legislation would remove a burdensome tax imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act.
“The Second Amendment is one of our nation’s most essential safeguards. Law-abiding citizens in Wyoming responsibly use this right to keep and bear arms every day,” said Senator Barrasso. “The last thing responsible gun owners need is more burdensome Washington taxes and restrictions. Our legislation keeps unnecessary red-tape out of Wyoming and protects Second Amendment rights across the country.”
“Law-abiding gun owners in Wyoming should not be forced to pay excessive taxes for exercising their Second Amendment rights,” said Senator Lummis. “While President Biden and Senate Democrats continue to wrongfully target responsible gun owners, I will continue fighting to preserve the people of Wyoming’s right to keep and bear arms.”
“Law-abiding Americans who exercise their Second Amendment rights should not be subject to unnecessary taxes and restrictions preventing them from doing so. Passed into law in 1934, the National Firearms Act needs to be amended. Our legislation will remove the red tape that places an undue financial burden on would-be gun owners,” said Senator Cotton.
Co-sponsors of this legislation include U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.).
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
Background:
- The 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates short-barreled shotguns and rifles, fully automatic firearms, suppressors, and a catchall category of explosives. In addition to background checks and registration, NFA regulated items have a $200 tax.
- The ATF has acknowledged the tax was intended “to curtail, if not prohibit, transactions” of firearms. The $200 tax, unchanged since 1934, is equivalent to $4,648 in today’s dollars.
- Since 2018, ownership of NFA regulated items have grown by more than 250% as more sportsmen, shooters and firearm enthusiasts exercise their Second Amendment right.
- The RIFLE Act does not modify the current checks and registration; it solely removes the federally mandated financial burden on law-abiding gun owners.
- The legislation is endorsed by the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
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