ATF’s Proposed NFA Rule Changes Could Make Buying a Suppressor a Whole Lot Easier
July 6, 2026
If you've ever bought a suppressor through an NFA trust, you already know the drill. There's the paperwork. The photos. The fingerprints. Then comes the waiting. Lots of waiting. There are some new proposed NFA rule changes that can help.
That's why a newly proposed rule from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is worth paying attention to. No, it doesn't remove suppressors from the National Firearms Act, and it isn't the deregulation many of us would like to see. But it does take aim at some of the most outdated parts of the process, and that's a win for every law-abiding gun owner.
For years, companies like Silencer Central have pushed for a simpler, more efficient system. Now it looks like the ATF may finally be catching up with reality.
Less Paperwork, Less Hassle
The biggest change would affect buyers using an NFA trust. Under the proposal, responsible persons listed on the trust would no longer have to submit fingerprint cards with every application. That's a big deal.
The ATF is also proposing to eliminate the traditional 2-by-2 passport photo requirement. Instead, applicants could simply use the photo already tied to their driver's license.
It might sound like a small change, but anyone who's rounded up passport photos, scheduled fingerprint appointments, or mailed paperwork across the country knows those little steps add up. Every extra form is another opportunity for delays, mistakes, or just plain frustration.
Bringing the NFA Into the 21st Century
Let's be honest. Some of the NFA process still feels like it was designed in another era—because it was.
The fingerprint requirement dates back to 1934, when paper files and ink cards were the only game in town. Today, background checks rely on sophisticated digital systems that are worlds apart from what existed nearly a century ago.
Physical fingerprint cards have become more of a bureaucratic tradition than a practical necessity. They're collected because they've always been collected—not because they play a meaningful role in today's approval process.
This proposal finally acknowledges that reality.
Good News for Trust Owners
NFA trusts remain one of the smartest ways to own a suppressor. They simplify estate planning, allow multiple responsible persons to legally possess NFA items, and provide flexibility that individual ownership simply doesn't.
The downside has always been the extra paperwork.
Removing fingerprint submissions and allowing driver's license photos would shave off two of the biggest administrative headaches associated with trust purchases. That means fewer appointments, fewer documents to gather, and fewer opportunities for something to slow the process down.
For Silencer Central customers, who frequently purchase suppressors through trusts, these changes could make an already streamlined buying experience even smoother.
Don't Toss Your Fingerprint Cards Yet
Before anyone starts celebrating too much, remember that this is still a proposal.
The rule must go through a 90-day public comment period before the ATF reviews the feedback and publishes a final version. Even if everything moves forward as expected, it will likely be close to a year before these changes become official.
Until then, the current rules still apply.
Progress Is Still Progress
Would I rather see suppressors removed from the NFA altogether? Absolutely. That's the conversation many shooters have been having for years. But meaningful change doesn't always happen in giant leaps. Sometimes it comes one regulation at a time.
If the ATF follows through on these proposals, buyers will spend less time chasing paperwork and more time enjoying their suppressors. That's good for consumers, good for businesses like Silencer Central, and good for an industry that's long overdue for a little common sense. No, this isn't the finish line. But it's one of the biggest steps forward we've seen in a long time.
If you are ready o buy a suppressor, go with the experts who make the process as simple as it can be, and who are working everyday to make it simpler for everyone.
Suppressors are classified as National Firearms Act (NFA) items because they were included in the original 1934 NFA. Lawmakers originally targeted them out of public safety concerns over mob violence and poaching. Yes, it is an outdated idea and we're working to fix it.
We ask that question to the ATF all the time. We think as long as the political winds are in our favor, eventually we will get suppressors off the NFA entirely. But it hasn't happened yet. Rule change proposals like these are helpful as we work toward deregulation.
These proposed rule changes to the NFA at least make the process a little more simplified. Until we get full deregulation, we will take the small victories.
While many suppressors can be used on several different caliber firearms, we have some specific models that can make your shooting more enjoyable. Pick the caliber that you have in mind. If you don’t see your caliber, pick one close to it to see our recommendations.
