The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) just dropped a legal bombshell with Roberts v. ATF, a fresh lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, directly assaulting the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934. Plaintiffs like T.J. Roberts, Zachary Cockrell, Meridian Ordnance LLC, Buckeye Firearms Association, Center for Human Liberty, Jews for the Preservation of Firearm Ownership, and the American Suppressor Association Foundation are swinging for the fences: they want the entire NFA framework—think $200 taxes, endless ATF paperwork for suppressors, SBRs, AOWs, and machine guns—declared unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. This isn’t some fringe filing; it’s a coalition of heavy hitters building on the post-Bruen momentum, where courts are increasingly skeptical of historical analogues that don’t actually match modern arms.
What’s clever here is the strategic layering. FPC isn’t just rehashing old arguments; they’re leveraging Bruen’s text, history, and tradition test to expose the NFA as a Depression-era revenue grab masquerading as safety theater—never mind that gangsters like Al Capone dodged it with relative ease while law-abiding folks drown in red tape today. Suppressors, for instance, are hearing protection devices proven to reduce shooter hearing damage by 30+ decibels, yet they’re lumped with gangster weapons. The implications? A win could shatter the NFA’s stranglehold, potentially nullifying the Hughes Amendment by extension (no more arbitrary machine gun bans), flooding the market with affordable cans and short barrels, and forcing ATF to refund billions in taxes. For the 2A community, this is rocket fuel: it tests whether shall not be infringed means anything beyond handguns, rallying grassroots support amid Biden-era crackdowns.
Gun owners, mark your calendars—this could be the domino that topples the NFA empire. FPC’s track record (hello, Rahimi wins and California carry victories) suggests they’re not bluffing. If Roberts prevails, expect copycat suits nationwide, a suppressor bonanza at your local shop, and politicians scrambling. Stay locked in with FPC for updates; the Second Amendment renaissance is heating up, and this lawsuit might just be the spark that ignites it.
