Federal Judge Rules NFA Registration Requirements Unconstitutional

Summary

A federal judge in the Northern District of Texas, Judge James Wesley Hendrix, ruled on August 5, 2026, in *Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF* and *Jensen v. ATF*, that the NFA's registration and approval requirements for untaxed items like suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs are unconstitutional. This decision stems from the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' zeroing out the relevant NFA taxes, thus removing Congress's constitutional basis under its taxing power. A permanent injunction against the ATF and DOJ was issued but is stayed for seven days, and its scope protects specific plaintiffs and their members, including Gun Owners of America members nationwide, but is not a universal nationwide injunction.