Republican efforts to relax regulations on gun silencers and short-barreled firearms encounter a significant hurdle as the Senate parliamentarian rules that the proposal requires a 60-vote threshold to be included in their broader tax and immigration bill. This guidance comes amid vigorous lobbying from gun rights groups, who argue that the changes would treat silencers similarly to long guns, while opponents underscore potential risks to public safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement.
In its House version, the bill proposed to eliminate a $200 tax on silencers, a measure that gun control advocates argue has been instrumental in regulating these devices for nearly a century. As the Senate’s version retained and expanded upon this provision, critics like Sen. Ron Wyden emphasize that such policy shifts do not belong in a budget reconciliation bill. The dynamics within Congress may shape the future of these regulatory changes, making this ongoing discussion a pivotal point for both gun rights and public safety.
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