Democrats Pushing to Skyrocket Firearm Tax to $4,709 Per Item

In a recent episode of Guns & Gadgets 2nd Amendment News, host Jared Yanis delivered a blunt warning to gun owners across America. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut introduced a Senate amendment that would raise the National Firearms Act (NFA) transfer tax from the historic $200 flat rate to an eye-popping $4,709 per item. The proposal, labeled Senate Amendment 2973 to House Bill 3944, isn’t just a tweak. It’s an outright escalation aimed at making legally owned NFA-regulated firearms, like suppressors and short-barreled rifles, financially impossible for most Americans.

According to Yanis, this was not just a budgetary suggestion. It was a direct message to the gun-owning public: If Democrats get full control again, this is what’s coming. And while the amendment is unlikely to pass now, it signals the party’s true intentions should they regain power in Congress and the White House.

What the Amendment Says, Word for Word

Jared read directly from the official document on air. The proposed amendment calls for an inflation-adjusted tax increase that would take the current $200 tax and boost it to $4,709 for every firearm transferred under the NFA. Additionally, it raises the manufacturing tax from $0 to $55, another move that would severely burden firearm makers and suppressor manufacturers.

The amendment specifically targets Sections 5811 and 5821A of the Internal Revenue Code, meaning it doesn’t create a new tax – it replaces the old structure. According to Yanis, this is a strategic move: rather than repealing the NFA, anti-gun lawmakers are trying to make it so painful to comply that people give up on owning these types of firearms altogether.

How We Got Here: A Missed Opportunity by Republicans

Jared didn’t mince words when placing blame. He accused the Republican Party of failing to act when they had the chance to dismantle the NFA through the reconciliation process. Earlier this year, the GOP had a pathway to reduce or remove the NFA tax altogether, which could’ve made it harder for Democrats to restore it later. But they hesitated.

Yanis pointed out that only a small handful of Republicans, such as Rep. Andrew Clyde, supported full repeal. The rest, he said, were too afraid of political backlash. “Grab your balls,” he said bluntly. “Do what you campaigned to do. We’re sick of you.” His message: the Republicans didn’t do enough when they had the votes, and now we’re all vulnerable to what comes next.

Chris Murphy’s “Shot Across the Bow”

Senator Chris Murphy, long known for his anti-gun positions, is no stranger to bold legislative moves. But this amendment stands out. Jared Yanis described it as “a shot across the bow”—a warning of what Democrats will do if they gain total political control. Even though this amendment may not pass now, it clearly lays the groundwork for future attacks on gun rights.

Murphy’s proposal is attached to a spending bill for military construction and veterans’ affairs. That’s no accident, said Jared. Hiding an anti-gun provision inside a totally unrelated appropriations bill is a sneaky but familiar political trick. “It shows you exactly what they’ll do when nobody’s watching,” Yanis warned.

Why This Would Devastate Gun Owners

The consequences of this proposal are staggering. Under current law, the $200 NFA tax is already a burden for many. But it’s at least manageable. Raising that tax to $4,709 would instantly shut down ownership of suppressors, SBRs, machine guns, and other regulated items for everyday Americans. According to Yanis, it would amount to a de facto ban through financial means.

“If you want to kill gun rights without technically banning anything,” Jared said, “just price people out of it.” That’s exactly what this amendment attempts. It weaponizes inflation adjustments to crush access to constitutionally protected items—without needing a full legislative ban.

Legal Battles Are More Important Than Ever

Because Congress failed to act, Jared Yanis said the courts are now our best chance at stopping further erosion of the Second Amendment. There are multiple lawsuits currently challenging the constitutionality of the NFA itself, many of which are working their way up through the federal courts.

Yanis warned viewers that they cannot count on elected officials to protect them anymore. “It’s unfortunate we have to depend on lawsuits, but here we are,” he said. This isn’t just a political fight – it’s a legal one. And the outcome could decide whether the NFA stands or falls for good.

Constitutional Consent? Not From the People

In a fiery moment, Jared pointed out that the Constitution gives power to Congress only “by the consent of the governed.” His response to that? “I don’t consent to any of this.” He called on viewers to be more vocal, more organized, and more relentless in contacting their representatives.

He urged every listener to call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, ask for their representatives and senators by name, and demand that they oppose any and all efforts to raise gun-related taxes. “If you’ve done it before, do it again,” he said. “This time, be assertive. Don’t get red-flagged, but don’t stay silent.”

The Amendment Timeline and What to Expect

Yanis emphasized that the amendment sets a 90-day clock once enacted, meaning the tax hike would go into effect within three months of passage. While it likely won’t make it through Congress in its current form, that doesn’t mean it’s dead. It’s parked – ready to be pulled off the shelf if political winds shift.

That’s what makes this moment so important, according to Jared. It’s not about what’s possible today. It’s about what’s planned for tomorrow. “They’re showing us the blueprint,” he said. “They’re showing us exactly how they’ll do it.”

The Bigger Picture: Taxation as a Weapon

This amendment reveals a deeper strategy being used by gun control advocates: taxation as a means of disarmament. Rather than fighting battles over bans, which attract national attention and often fail, lawmakers are now turning to the tax code to achieve the same result quietly.

Raising the NFA tax to $4,709 may sound absurd – but as Jared pointed out, it wouldn’t take much to pass it if Democrats control the House, Senate, and presidency again. It’s not far-fetched, it’s just waiting for the right moment.

Inflation Isn’t the Excuse – It’s the Plan

Let’s be honest – nobody believes this is about “adjusting for inflation.” That’s just the language being used to soften the blow. If it were truly about keeping pace with inflation, there’d be a broader, more balanced conversation. Instead, we get a bill that multiplies the tax 23-fold.

This is less about money and more about control. Politicians like Chris Murphy understand that the gun community is resilient. We fight bans, we organize, we win court cases. But a tax? A big, ugly number? That’s harder to challenge, and even harder to survive.

Why This Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Even though Jared Yanis believes this amendment won’t pass now, we shouldn’t relax. Laws don’t appear out of nowhere – they build slowly, often from proposals that once seemed laughable. Today’s “dead on arrival” bill could be next year’s federal policy.

Gun owners often focus on bans and registration laws. But as this shows, we should also watch the tax code like a hawk. One number can change everything. $4,709 isn’t just a price tag – it’s a message. And that message is: “You’re not supposed to own this.”

UP NEXT: “Heavily Armed” — See Which States Are The Most Strapped

Americans have long debated the role of firearms, but one thing is sure — some states are far more armed than others.

See where your state ranks in this new report on firearm ownership across the U.S.