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Lawmakers Fight to Remove $200 Gun Tax with RIFLE Act
On April 1, 2025, Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) reintroduced the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act in both chambers of Congress. This important legislation, appearing as H.R. 2552 in the House and S.1224 in the Senate, seeks to eliminate the burdensome $200 excise tax currently imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA).
Since 1934, the NFA has forced gun owners to pay a $200 tax when purchasing certain firearms and accessories, including short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, suppressors, and automatic firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has openly acknowledged that this tax was originally intended “to curtail, if not prohibit, transactions” of these lawful items—a clear infringement on Second Amendment rights.
“The Second Amendment is a Constitutional right that is not to be infringed. Law-abiding gun owners should not be forced to pay an unconstitutional firearm tax,” said Representative Hinson. “This bill will remove unnecessary financial barriers on lawful gun owners from the antiquated 1934 National Firearms Act and protect the Second Amendment rights of Iowans and Americans.”
Senator Cotton reinforced this principled stance, stating, “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.”
The bill has rightfully garnered significant support in Congress. In the House, Representative Hinson introduced the legislation alongside 27 original co-sponsors, while Senator Cotton’s Senate version has been co-sponsored by 12 colleagues, including Senators John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Rick Scott (R-Florida).
The legislation maintains existing background check provisions and registration requirements—it solely targets the unjustifiable financial barrier the tax creates. The $200 tax has remained unchanged since 1934, when it represented a significant financial obstacle designed specifically to prevent Americans from exercising their constitutional rights. In today’s dollars, that amount would be equivalent to approximately $4,741—a substantial and unfair burden on law-abiding citizens. The RIFLE Act has earned strong endorsements from respected firearms advocacy organizations. John Commerford, Executive Director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), stated, “The National Rifle Association applauds Representative Hinson and Senator Cotton on their leadership on the Second Amendment and their reintroduction of the RIFLE Act. This $200 punitive tax has only ever served as a financial barrier for law-abiding Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”
The National Shooting Sports Foundation has also backed this common-sense legislation. Lawrence G. Keane, the organization’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel, accurately described the tax as a “‘sin tax’” and added, “However, there is no sin in exercising a Constitutionally-protected right. We appreciate the leadership of Representative Hinson and Senator Cotton to eliminate this tax that only serves as a barrier to law-abiding citizens keeping and bearing arms.”
Highlighting the growing support for eliminating this unreasonable tax, ownership of NFA-regulated items has increased by more than 230% from 2018 to 2023, as more sportsmen, shooters, and firearm enthusiasts seek to exercise their Second Amendment rights without unjust financial penalty.
The legislation also ensures that pistols with stabilizing braces would not be subject to the $200 transfer tax, addressing another recent concern among responsible gun owners.
The NRA-ILA has committed to providing updates as this vital legislation progresses through Congress, offering hope that this outdated restriction on constitutional rights may finally be removed.
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