Gun rights advocates are raising red flags as two major pro-Second Amendment bills, the Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 404) and the Short Act (H.R. 2395), sit idle in the House Ways and Means Committee. According to Ben Sanderson of Gun Owners of America (GOA), this delay isn’t caused by Democrats, but by moderate Republicans who claim to support gun rights yet refuse to take action. “They’re dragging their feet,” Sanderson said bluntly in his Minuteman Moment report, urging viewers to call the committee and demand movement.
What the Bills Aim to Do
The Hearing Protection Act would remove suppressors, also called silencers, from the regulatory framework of the National Firearms Act (NFA), treating them like standard firearms. That means no more $200 tax stamps, fingerprinting, or months-long approval wait times. Just a regular background check. The Short Act would do the same for short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and other NFA-classified weapons, stripping them of arbitrary restrictions and aligning them with standard firearms under the Gun Control Act. Both bills are widely supported by gun owners, and yet, they remain stuck in limbo.
Sanderson: This Is Our Chance to Gut the NFA
Ben Sanderson sees this moment as critical. “Last year, we forced the ATF to speed up suppressor approvals. That was the first breach in the wall. Now we’re trying to storm the gate,” he said. GOA supports both the HPA and the Short Act and is pushing hard to get them to a floor vote. Sanderson also emphasized the health benefits of suppressors, pointing out that groups like the American Academy of Otolaryngology support their use to protect shooters’ hearing.
Jared Yanis Calls Out ‘Cowards’ in Congress
In his Guns & Gadgets report, Jared Yanis didn’t mince words: “A couple moderate Republicans are being cowards.” He expressed deep frustration that the party controlling the House isn’t taking advantage of its position to fight back against nearly a century of federal gun control. “Democrats don’t care who they offend, but when Republicans are in power, they’re just happy to be there,” he said. Yanis has called for a flood of calls to the committee, especially to Chairman Jason Smith of Missouri.
VSO Gun Channel: ‘Feckless Republicans’ Deserve Accountability
Curtis Hallstrom of VSO Gun Channel echoed that same frustration. “Today is a bad day,” he opened his video, stating bluntly that Republicans on the committee “have no spine.” Hallstrom pointed to the same issue: Republicans campaigning as Second Amendment champions, then refusing to act when they have the power. “There is no better defense than offense,” he said. He accused the committee of standing “on the neck” of efforts to undo unconstitutional laws and called for direct pressure on Smith and his colleagues.
Langley Outdoors Academy: ‘Time to Backhand Some RINOs’
Braden Langley, host of Langley Outdoors Academy, was even more pointed. “We’ve been celebrating progress, but now it’s time to dust off the old backhand,” he said. Langley blasted moderate Republicans for stalling while gun owners continue to be burdened by the NFA. He cited GOA SVP Eric Pratt, who warned that insiders are preparing a watered-down compromise that would reduce the NFA tax only for suppressors, ignoring the broader need to end the tax and registration schemes altogether. Langley emphasized, “This is not the time for weak proposals.”
The Numbers Are There – So What’s the Problem?
According to Sanderson, the Hearing Protection Act already has 75 cosponsors in the House and 30 in the Senate. That kind of support suggests these bills could pass if they’re allowed to reach the floor. And yet, as Jared Yanis, Hallstrom, and Langley all pointed out, the bills are being bottled up behind closed doors by the very party that claims to defend gun rights. Yanis was especially forceful, saying, “We cannot just let gun owners vote and give Republicans power, only to sit back and watch while they stall our bills and break their campaign promises.”
Why Suppressors and SBRs Matter
All four sources stressed the real-world importance of deregulating suppressors and short-barreled rifles. Suppressors reduce gunshot noise by around 30 decibels, making them essential for hearing protection, not tools for criminals as Hollywood often portrays. “In Britain, France, and Norway, suppressors are seen as public courtesy,” said Sanderson. Meanwhile, SBRs are no more dangerous than standard rifles but face excessive regulation because of outdated laws from 1934. “This stuff was never about safety – it was about control,” Hallstrom argued.
What’s at Stake? A Lot More Than Two Bills
Langley emphasized that if these bills fail, it won’t just be a setback – it will send a message to future anti-gun administrations. The Short Act, in particular, would help prevent executive overreach like Biden’s pistol brace ban, which was enforced by manipulating NFA definitions. “If we don’t fix the NFA, we’re just giving the next administration more tools to punish gun owners,” Langley said. He praised GOA for targeting the root of the problem, rather than just playing defense.
A Missed Opportunity the GOP Can’t Afford
Let’s be real – this is bigger than silencers and SBRs. It’s about trust. The GOP has spent years calling itself the “party of the Second Amendment.” But now, with a clear shot at rolling back gun control, some of its own members are ducking for cover. Why? Political fear? Pressure from lobbyists? It doesn’t matter. The result is the same: stalled progress, broken promises, and growing frustration among the very voters who put them in office. This is not just bad optics – it’s political betrayal.
The Time to Act Is Now
All four commentators urged viewers to call the House Ways and Means Committee at (202) 225-3625 and demand that H.R. 404 and H.R. 2395 be brought to the floor for a vote. “If you light those phones up, they listen,” Langley said. Yanis added that social media pressure works too, especially tagging representatives on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. The message is simple: do your job or face the consequences.
There’s a real chance here to reshape how the Second Amendment is treated in federal law. But that window won’t stay open forever. As Hallstrom warned, “If Republicans can’t get this done now, they don’t deserve to be reelected.” That’s not just a threat – it’s a reality. The American gun-owning public is watching. And if those in power can’t follow through, voters may very well follow through at the ballot box.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.