South Dakota Deregulates Suppressors For When Congress Finally Repeals Neutered NFA

February 13, 2026
7:50 am

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South Dakota just dropped a bombshell for gun owners nationwide by yanking suppressors from its controlled weapon list, effectively deregulating them at the state level in anticipation of Congress finally gutting the neutered National Firearms Act (NFA). This isn't some feel-good gesture—it's a strategic masterstroke. While the NFA has treated suppressors like exotic contraband since 1934, forcing owners through a gauntlet of $200 taxes, endless ATF paperwork, and months-long waits, South Dakota's move ensures that if federal reforms like the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) sail through, the Mount Rushmore State will be suppressor paradise from day one. No more state-level roadblocks; just grab your can and hit the range without Big Brother's permission slip. Dig deeper, and this is pure 2A momentum in action. Suppressors aren't silencers from Hollywood fantasies—they're hearing protection devices that slash gunshot noise by 20-35 decibels, making shooting safer for ears and neighbors alike. States like South Dakota, Texas, and others have been chipping away at NFA overreach for years, with 42 now allowing suppressor ownership under federal rules. But SD's preemptive strike flips the script: it's betting on D.C. sanity (fingers crossed post-2024 elections) and shielding residents from federal foot-dragging. Critics cry public safety, yet data from suppressor-friendly states shows zero crime spikes—ATF stats confirm NFA items are used in under 1% of crimes. This is deregulation Darwinism; forward-thinking states are evolving past outdated Prohibition-era laws. For the 2A community, the implications are electric: a blueprint for other states to follow, ramped-up pressure on HPA sponsors like Rep. Burgess Owens, and a reminder that nullification works when states lead. If Congress repeals the NFA tax stamp nonsense, expect a suppressor boom—sales already hit 1.9 million registered units last year per ATF. South Dakota's flex isn't just local news; it's a rallying cry. Gun owners, take note: support state-level pushes, lobby your reps, and gear up. The quiet revolution is heating up, one decibel at a time.

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Dig deeper, and this is pure 2A momentum in action. Suppressors aren’t silencers from Hollywood fantasies—they’re hearing protection devices that slash gunshot noise by 20-35 decibels, making shooting safer for ears and neighbors alike. States like South Dakota, Texas, and others have been chipping away at NFA overreach for years, with 42 now allowing suppressor ownership under federal rules. But SD’s preemptive strike flips the script: it’s betting on D.C. sanity (fingers crossed post-2024 elections) and shielding residents from federal foot-dragging. Critics cry public safety, yet data from suppressor-friendly states shows zero crime spikes—ATF stats confirm NFA items are used in under 1% of crimes. This is deregulation Darwinism; forward-thinking states are evolving past outdated Prohibition-era laws.

For the 2A community, the implications are electric: a blueprint for other states to follow, ramped-up pressure on HPA sponsors like Rep. Burgess Owens, and a reminder that nullification works when states lead. If Congress repeals the NFA tax stamp nonsense, expect a suppressor boom—sales already hit 1.9 million registered units last year per ATF. South Dakota’s flex isn’t just local news; it’s a rallying cry. Gun owners, take note: support state-level pushes, lobby your reps, and gear up. The quiet revolution is heating up, one decibel at a time.

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