On March 27, 2025, Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas and Representative Andrew Clyde of Georgia announced the reintroduction of the “Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today” Act, or the SHORT Act. According to Marshall’s official press release, the legislation targets what he calls unconstitutional taxation, registration, and regulation of certain firearms under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Specifically, it seeks to remove short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and “any other weapons” (AOWs) from the list of firearms subject to the NFA’s tight controls.
Responding to the Biden-Era Pistol Brace Rule
Both lawmakers criticized the Biden Administration’s 2023 reinterpretation of the NFA that classified millions of legally purchased pistols equipped with stabilizing braces as illegal short-barreled rifles. In their press releases, Marshall and Clyde argued that this reinterpretation forced gun owners into an unconstitutional registry called the “Amnesty Registration of Pistol Brace Weapons,” or else face criminal penalties. According to Representative Clyde’s statement, “The Biden-Harris Administration dangerously weaponized the draconian National Firearms Act to further infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment liberties.”
Breaking Down the Bill’s Core Changes
The full text of the SHORT Act reveals major changes to federal gun laws. As noted in the Senate version of the bill (S. ll, 119th Congress), it would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the classification of SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs as regulated firearms. The bill also makes changes to Title 18 of the U.S. Code to prevent future attempts to reclassify these weapons. One of the more aggressive features is its demand that the Attorney General destroy all federal records related to these weapons – including applications to make or transfer them.
Gun Rights Groups Offer Full Support
Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) both praised the legislation. In GOA’s statement, Director of Federal Affairs Aidan Johnston said the SHORT Act would repeal “archaic short barrel restrictions from the National Firearms Act of 1934.” NAGR’s Political Director Hunter King added that the bill is “not a measly reform; it’s a declaration of Second Amendment supremacy.” Both organizations stressed that the bill would prevent the ATF from “ever again” using the NFA as a weapon against gun owners.
Backing From a Long List of Lawmakers
Support for the SHORT Act has poured in from dozens of Republican lawmakers. The Senate version of the bill is co-sponsored by at least 12 senators, including Cynthia Lummis, Rick Scott, Tommy Tuberville, and others. Meanwhile, the House version has 45 original cosponsors, including Representatives Lauren Boebert, Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Byron Donalds. In her own statement, Senator Lummis said the bill offers “a permanent solution to the unconstitutional and unworkable Pistol Brace Rule put forward by unelected ATF bureaucrats.”
Destroying the Paper Trail
One of the bill’s most radical proposals is the mandated destruction of all NFA records related to these weapons. As laid out in Section 6 of the Senate bill, this would include registration entries in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as well as applications to transfer or manufacture the firearms in question. Gun rights advocate Jared Yanis, host of Guns & Gadgets, emphasized in his March 2025 video that this would “mean no more tracking, no more harassment, and no more threats of confiscation.”
Video Commentary Highlights the Stakes
Jared Yanis’ recent video on his YouTube channel Guns & Gadgets 2nd Amendment News explains the political and legal context of the SHORT Act. He describes the NFA as an “outdated law” that has been used for decades to target law-abiding gun owners. According to Yanis, “this isn’t just a paperwork fix – it’s a bold strike against the ATF’s unchecked power.” He notes that the legislation also prevents state and local governments from imposing their own taxes or registries related to these firearms if they’re being used legally under federal law.
No More $200 Tax Stamps or Long Waits
One big practical effect of the bill would be to eliminate the $200 tax stamp currently required to make or transfer an SBR or SBS under the NFA. According to Yanis and the bill’s text, removing these firearms from the NFA would also mean no more waiting months for federal approval just to build or transfer a legally owned firearm. These tax stamps have long been seen by gun rights advocates as an unnecessary financial burden on law-abiding citizens.
Supporters Say It’s About Constitutional Clarity
Senator Marshall and Congressman Clyde both leaned heavily on the phrase “shall not be infringed” in their press releases. They argue the National Firearms Act – particularly when weaponized by executive agencies – represents a clear infringement on the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. “This legislation restores our God-given rights,” said Senator Marshall, urging Congress to “take a sledgehammer to government overreach.”
But It Won’t Be an Easy Win
Jared Yanis was quick to point out in his video that the bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate. To pass, it will need at least 60 votes – requiring support from seven or more Democrats or Independents assuming all Republicans vote in favor. Yanis urged his audience to call their representatives and demand action, saying “this is a tall task, but not impossible if we speak up.”
Why This Matters Beyond Gun Policy
What makes the SHORT Act important isn’t just the firearms involved – it’s the bigger conversation about government power, constitutional rights, and bureaucratic overreach. Whether one agrees with the bill or not, it draws attention to how laws written nearly a century ago are still being applied in new ways, sometimes with major consequences for millions of people. The fight over the NFA is about more than SBRs – it’s about who controls the definition of lawful behavior.
A Bill With Teeth
The SHORT Act isn’t symbolic – it’s sweeping. If passed, it would undo decades of firearm regulation and limit the ability of federal and state governments to monitor and tax certain gun ownership. With support from major gun rights organizations and dozens of lawmakers, it’s a clear signal of how strong the Second Amendment movement has become post-Bruen. Still, the road ahead is tough. But for those who see the NFA as a decades-long mistake, the SHORT Act is finally giving them something they’ve been asking for: a real fight to roll it back – not just nibble around the edges.
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 writes about homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Whether it’s canning vegetables or setting up a rainwater harvesting system, Lisa’s goal is to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.