The Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee has officially dropped the ball on the Second Amendment, again. According to attorney Mark W. Smith of The Four Boxes Diner, what should have been a clear victory, removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA), turned into yet another disappointment. Instead of eliminating suppressors from federal registration and regulation altogether, Republicans merely zeroed out the $200 transfer tax. That means you still need to get fingerprinted, photographed, and registered like a criminal.
Curtis Hallstrom from The VSO Gun Channel put it bluntly: “They are that out of touch.” Hallstrom warned that reducing the tax would be a bait-and-switch, and he was right. The Republicans didn’t pass the full Hearing Protection Act; they took the easy way out by making it look like progress while leaving the real problem untouched.
Mark Smith Calls It What It Is: Incompetence
Mark Smith, a constitutional attorney and Supreme Court Bar member, didn’t hold back. “I’m angry with the Republicans,” he said flatly in his video. “They are utterly incompetent when it comes to negotiating and getting things done that actually advance the Second Amendment.” Smith pointed out that Republicans had the upper hand. They controlled the House and Senate, albeit by narrow margins, yet couldn’t even push through a basic safety device exemption.
His outrage wasn’t just about policy – it was about principle. “Suppressors are a hearing safety device,” Smith emphasized. “They help preserve hearing, reduce noise pollution, and make firearms safer to use.” Yet somehow, even that wasn’t enough for Republicans to act boldly.
A Pattern of Selling Out
Smith took viewers back to 2022, on the eve of the landmark New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen ruling. While gun owners awaited a major Supreme Court win, Senate Republicans like Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn were busy handing Democrats a legislative victory – the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. That law enacted new federal gun control provisions, and Smith believes Republicans gave it away with no strings attached.
“They didn’t even ask for anything in return,” Smith said. “Not national concealed carry reciprocity. Not removal of suppressors, short-barreled rifles, or shotguns from the NFA. Nothing.”
Curtis Hallstrom: “This Is a National Gun Registry”
Hallstrom, who has tracked Republican behavior on the Second Amendment for years, was just as furious. “This is effectively a national gun registry,” he said, pointing to the fact that suppressor owners still must register with the federal government. Despite the $0 tax, the paperwork and surveillance remain.
He criticized Republicans for treating the tax cut as if it were some great favor. “It was never about the money. It was about the infringement,” Hallstrom said. He noted that by removing the financial cost but leaving the rest of the NFA intact, Republicans may have eliminated standing for future court challenges. That means lawsuits could now be thrown out simply because there’s no monetary harm to the plaintiff.
Clay Shoots and Congratulations – Seriously?
What infuriated Hallstrom and many in the gun rights community even more was what came next. After approving the bill without the Hearing Protection Act, Republican lawmakers went out for a clay shoot. “They went to shoot clays and pat themselves on the back,” Hallstrom said. “That’s how tone-deaf they are.”
He even ran a poll on his channel. The results were damning: 54% of viewers called the Republicans “traitors,” 30% said vote them out, and only 16% said they were just out of touch. Not exactly a glowing endorsement from their base.
Who’s to Blame? A Long List
Hallstrom didn’t mince words and named names. Representatives like Jason Smith (MO), Mike Kelly (PA), Claudia Tenney (NY), and Greg Steube (FL) were among those who voted for the bill and attended the clay shoot. “You don’t get to wear hearing protection at the range if you denied it to the rest of us,” Hallstrom mocked.
Smith, meanwhile, focused his anger on familiar faces like John Cornyn. He even broke his own rule against primarying Republican incumbents, calling for Cornyn to be replaced. “He negotiated with Chuck Schumer to pass gun control,” Smith said. “That’s not just betrayal. That’s active participation.”
They Had the Tools – They Just Didn’t Use Them
One of the most frustrating points both Smith and Hallstrom raised was how easy this could’ve been. If Republicans had packaged the Hearing Protection Act inside a larger budget bill using reconciliation rules, they could have bypassed the filibuster altogether. This strategy only requires a simple majority vote. “They didn’t even try,” Smith said. “They’re scared of the parliamentarian.”
Instead of pushing the boundaries like Democrats often do, Republicans seemed more interested in playing nice – and getting nothing for it. “They don’t know how to negotiate,” Smith lamented. “They’ve clearly never read The Art of the Deal.”
Why This Feels Like a Betrayal
As someone who’s followed Second Amendment politics closely, this feels like déjà vu. Republicans campaign on gun rights, make grand promises, and then back down the moment it matters. It’s almost worse than having Democrats in charge. At least then you know what to expect. But when your supposed allies compromise your rights to look “reasonable,” it cuts deeper.
There was no pressure to compromise. No urgent national outcry demanding suppressors stay regulated. This was a softball. And they still dropped it.
The Democrats Didn’t Even Have to Try
Mark Smith pointed out something many forget: in 2022, Democrats got gun control passed only because Republicans helped. “All they had to do was nothing,” Smith said. “If Republicans had simply stood still, that bill would’ve died in the Senate filibuster.” Instead, 15 Republican senators handed Biden his first major gun control win in decades.
Now in 2025, Democrats once again win by doing nothing, and Republicans once again lose by choice.
Moving Forward: What Can Be Done?
Both Smith and Hallstrom urged their viewers to stay vocal. Call your representatives. Name and shame the ones who turned their backs. But they also both acknowledged the hard truth: real change requires new blood. That means challenging incumbents who wear the Second Amendment as a badge during campaigns but toss it aside once elected.
“This isn’t about politics anymore,” Hallstrom said. “It’s about rights. It’s about trust. And they broke it.”
Republicans Must Earn Back Trust
It’s not enough to slap “Pro-2A” on a website. Real support for the Second Amendment means fighting for it, not settling for half-measures. Mark Smith’s frustration is clear: “We’re negotiating against ourselves.” Hallstrom echoed the same: “You don’t reduce the infringement – you eliminate it.”
If Republicans want to lead the pro-gun movement, they need to prove it. Because right now, as Smith put it, “we can’t even get suppressors out of the NFA – and that’s just absurd.”
A Line in the Sand
Gun owners have been patient. They’ve donated, they’ve voted, they’ve waited. But this might be the tipping point. As Hallstrom said, “Defending the Second Amendment means undoing decades of gun control, not managing it.” Reducing a tax isn’t a victory. It’s a distraction.
If Republicans want to hold onto their base, they’ll need to do more than shoot clays and smile for cameras. They’ll need to act. And next time, they better not flinch.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, John developed a love for the great outdoors early on. With years of experience as a wilderness guide, he’s navigated rugged terrains and unpredictable weather patterns. John is also an avid hunter and fisherman who believes in sustainable living. His focus on practical survival skills, from building shelters to purifying water, reflects his passion for preparedness. When he’s not out in the wild, you can find him sharing his knowledge through writing, hoping to inspire others to embrace self-reliance.
