WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) reintroduced the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act to remove the unconstitutional taxation, registration, and regulation of short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and any other weapons (AOWs) under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Senator Roger Marshall, M.D (R-KS) introduced the Senate companion bill.

 

“The Biden-Harris Administration dangerously weaponized the draconian National Firearms Act to further infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment liberties,” said Clyde. “Yet the American people overwhelmingly rejected the Left’s unconstitutional tactics and backdoor gun control in November. It’s now time for Congress to use this mandate to protect Americans’ unalienable, constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Deregulating SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs is the most effective way to ensure American gun owners are not subjected to unlawful and unnecessary restrictions, taxation, and registration of firearms or pistol braces. I’m proud to partner with Senator Marshall in the fight to defeat this Biden-era rule and safeguard Americans’ Second Amendment freedoms.”

 

“‘Shall not be infringed’ is crystal clear – and the Biden-era abuses of the Constitutionally protected rights of gun owners across the country need to be undone,” said Senator Marshall. “The SHORT Act takes a step toward rolling back nonsensical regulations that the National Firearms Act has placed upon gun owners. I challenge my colleagues in both chambers to pass this legislation and join me in fully restoring and protecting our God-given Second Amendment rights.”

 

Supporting organizations include Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Association of Gun Rights (NAGR).

 

“The Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act will repeal elements of the archaic National Firearms Act, which the Biden ATF abused to justify their unconstitutional pistol brace ban– a policy change that affects millions of law-abiding gun owners and does nothing to curb rising crime,” said Aidan Johnston, Director of Federal Affairs for GOA. “GOA is proud to support the SHORT Act, which will repeal archaic short barrel restrictions from the National Firearms Act of 1934 and prevent them from ever being weaponized against the American people ever again.”

 

“The SHORT Act is a long overdue step toward restoring the rights of Americans, freeing gun owners from the burdensome and outdated regulations of the National Firearms Act,” said Hunter King, Director of Political Affairs for NAGR. “By removing short-barreled rifles, shotguns, and similar firearms from egregious federal regulations, gun owners would be able to exercise their Second Amendment freedoms without oppressive government interference. This isn’t a measly reform; it’s a declaration of Second Amendment supremacy and will take a sledgehammer to government overreach. The National Association for Gun Rights is pleased to support this bill to reclaim our right to keep and bear arms.”

 

Original cosponsors (45) include Representatives Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Brian Babin (TX-36), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Lauren Boebert (CO-04), Josh Brecheen (OK-02), Tim Burchett (TN-02), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Ben Cline (VA-06), Eli Crane (AZ-02), Rick Crawford (AR-01), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Neal Dunn (FL-02), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), Mike Ezell (MS-04), Russell Fry (SC-07), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14),  Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Andy Harris (MD-01), Clay Higgins (LA-03), Richard Hudson (NC-09), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), Thomas Massie (KY-04), Addison McDowell (NC-06), Carol Miller (WV-01), Mary Miller (IL-15), John Moolenaar (MI-02), Barry Moore (AL-01), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Andy Ogles (TN-05), Scott Perry (PA-10), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), John Rose (TN-06), Austin Scott (GA-08), Keith Self (TX-03), Tim Walberg (MI-05), Randy Weber (TX-14), Daniel Webster (FL-11), and Tony Wied (WI-08).

 

Full text of the SHORT Act can be found HERE. 

 

Background

 

The SHORT Act will remove the unconstitutional taxation, registration, and regulation in the draconian National Firearms Act (NFA) of firearms such as Short Barreled Rifles (SBR), Short Barreled Shotguns (SBS), and Any Other Weapons (AOW).

 

Using the NFA, the Biden-Harris Administration erroneously argued that Americans who own pistols with stabilizing braces are in possession of illegal short-barreled rifles. The ATF used that argument to facilitate a ban, forcing gun owners to violate its rule or participate in an unconstitutional registry titled “Amnesty Registration of Pistol Brace Weapons,” to keep their own firearms. Eliminating unconstitutional and unnecessary restrictions, taxation, and registration placed on NFA firearms will ensure that the ATF does not enact any future version of this ban.

 

Rep. Clyde previously introduced the SHORT Act in the 117th Congress and the 118th Congress.