Staff Reports
In a monumental shift for gun rights supporters, the United States Department of Justice has reversed its longstanding position on firearm suppressors, now affirming that these devices are protected under the Second Amendment. This reversal came amid the legal proceedings involving George Peterson, who was convicted of possessing an unregistered suppressor. For years, the DOJ maintained that suppressors were not “arms” protected by the Constitution, but this new stance marks a significant victory for those who have long argued that gun rights should not be subject to arbitrary government interpretation.
The DOJ’s new position directly challenges decades of legal precedent that have chipped away at Americans’ Second Amendment rights. By recognizing that suppressor regulations infringe upon the fundamental right to keep and bear arms, the department is finally acknowledging what gun owners have known all along: that the right to self-defense and responsible firearm use should not be encumbered by excessive government red tape. The burdensome taxes and registration requirements imposed by the National Firearms Act have served as little more than a barrier to law-abiding citizens, while criminals continue to ignore these laws with impunity.
Despite this progress, the DOJ still clings to the outdated framework of the National Firearms Act, defending regulations that do nothing to deter crime but instead punish responsible Americans. Lawful gun owners are forced to navigate a maze of paperwork, pay hefty tax stamps, and endure lengthy waiting periods just to exercise their constitutional rights. Meanwhile, those intent on breaking the law are unaffected by these restrictions, highlighting the fundamental flaw in the government’s approach to gun control.
This moment presents a critical opportunity for advocates of liberty to push for real reform. The Hearing Protection Act, which seeks to remove unnecessary barriers to suppressor ownership, has gained renewed momentum in light of the DOJ’s acknowledgment of suppressors as constitutionally protected. It is time for Congress to act and eliminate regulations that treat responsible citizens like criminals, while doing nothing to address the root causes of violence in our communities.
The fight for the Second Amendment is far from over, but this development is a step in the right direction. With the federal government now admitting that suppressors aid in the safe and responsible use of firearms, there is a strong foundation for further efforts to restore and expand Americans’ gun rights. Lawmakers must be held accountable and pushed to align regulations with the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. The restoration of these rights is not just a legal issue—it is a matter of preserving the liberty and security of every American.
