A Major Suppressor Ruling, but No Immediate Change at River Valley Arms & Ammo

News / / 4 minutes of reading

August 13, 2026

Today could be a very big day for suppressor owners, dealers and Second Amendment supporters. There is plenty of reason to celebrate, but we also need to be patient while the legal and regulatory details are worked out.

On August 5, 2026, Judge James Wesley Hendrix of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a significant ruling in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF. The court concluded that several National Firearms Act registration and approval requirements could no longer be enforced against the covered plaintiffs and customers for firearms whose federal making and transfer tax had been reduced to $0.

The affected categories include suppressors, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns. The ruling also addresses “any other weapons,” or AOWs, although the precise relief concerning AOWs differs between the plaintiffs involved in the consolidated cases.

The federal making and transfer taxes remain in place for machine guns and destructive devices.

What Did the Court Decide?

The NFA was enacted in 1934 under Congress’s constitutional authority to impose and collect taxes. For decades, the federal government required the registration of certain firearms and imposed a making or transfer tax, commonly known as the $200 tax stamp.

Congress later reduced the making and transfer tax to $0 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs, effective January 1, 2026.

The Texas court determined that once Congress eliminated the tax on those items, the federal government could no longer justify the challenged registration and approval requirements under its taxing authority. The court therefore issued an injunction preventing enforcement of several NFA provisions against the plaintiffs and certain covered members and customers.

That is a major victory, but it is not the same as a simple, immediate and nationwide repeal of the NFA.

The injunction is limited to the parties and other people or transactions specifically covered by the court’s judgment. The court also stayed its judgment for seven days to allow the federal government to seek appellate relief.

What Does This Mean at River Valley Arms & Ammo Today?

For now, we will continue handling suppressor sales and transfers the same way we always have.

Customers should not assume they can immediately purchase a suppressor and take it home without completing the existing ATF process. Until we receive clear, authoritative direction about the court’s judgment, any appeal, additional court orders and what is required of Minnesota dealers, we will continue following all applicable federal and state requirements.

For the time being:

  • Current suppressor transactions will continue through the established ATF process.
  • Customers who have already submitted paperwork should continue waiting for approval.
  • Customers who purchased a suppressor but have not completed their paperwork should continue with the existing process.
  • Federal firearm laws, eligibility requirements and applicable background checks still apply.
  • We will not transfer a suppressor outside the established process until we receive reliable legal and regulatory guidance telling us how to proceed.

Trust us, we are excited, too. But no suppressor is worth risking someone’s freedom or firearm rights because of an uncertain interpretation of a brand-new court decision.

What About the Dealer’s SOT?

The court’s ruling did not strike down the Special Occupational Tax imposed on businesses that import, manufacture or deal in NFA firearms. The court specifically noted that the plaintiffs did not challenge that tax.

That leaves important questions about whether and how a federally licensed dealer may sell or transfer suppressors outside the existing SOT framework. River Valley Arms & Ammo is waiting for clear direction from federal regulators and the appropriate Minnesota authorities before changing how we do business.

Minnesota law also makes it a felony to sell or possess a suppressor that is not lawfully possessed under federal law. Because Minnesota law is tied directly to federal law, it is especially important that dealers and customers receive clear guidance before doing anything differently.

The Bottom Line

The August 5 ruling could ultimately change how suppressors are purchased and transferred in the United States. It is a significant development, and it is absolutely worth celebrating.

But as of August 13, 2026, River Valley Arms & Ammo will continue operating under the established suppressor sales and transfer process.

We are watching this situation very closely. We are also getting tons of inquiries from excited people who, just like us, want to know when and how the process may change.

As soon as we have updated, reliable information to share, we will post again. Stay tuned.

This update is provided for general educational purposes and is not individual legal advice. Court orders, appeals and regulatory guidance can change quickly.

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