Montana Plans Suppressor Deregulation Bill

Montana Republicans say they're bringing legislation in 2027 to strip state-level restrictions on suppressors and short-barreled firearms, getting ahead of federal uncertainty rather than waiting on it.

Driving the news: The push follows new ATF guidelines issued after recent litigation reshaped how the agency treats suppressors and short-barreled firearms under federal law. Montana lawmakers want state statute locked in now, independent of whatever Washington does next.

• The sponsors: Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Speaker Brandon Ler, Rep. Mitchell, Sen. Galt, and Sen. Glimm are leading the effort.
• The priority: The NRA has named this its top legislative item for Montana's 2027 session.

The legal logic is straightforward. Federal suppressor and short-barreled firearm rules run through the National Firearms Act — tax stamps, registration, waiting periods. If a state removes its own restrictions and declines to enforce federal NFA requirements through state channels, it creates a buffer. Should Congress or a future administration tighten federal suppressor policy again, Montana residents would still have clear state-level protection for possession and use.

State of play: Montana isn't the first to try this. Several states have already moved to deregulate suppressors and short-barreled firearms at the state level, treating it as insurance against federal reversal rather than a reaction to any current crisis. The ATF's own recent policy shifts — prompted by court losses — show federal rules on these items aren't as fixed as gun owners might assume.

What they're saying: The NRA credited the bill's momentum directly to the lawmakers pushing it, framing the issue around a practical concern — hearing protection for hunters — as much as a Second Amendment one. Suppressors reduce muzzle blast to safer decibel levels, something hunters and range shooters have pushed for years to normalize rather than tax and register like a controlled substance.

What's next: The bill won't move until Montana's legislature convenes for its 2027 session. Watch for formal bill language, committee assignments, and whether momentum holds through the months-long gap before lawmakers gavel in.

The bottom line: Montana is betting that state law can outlast federal policy swings — and gun owners there should watch this bill as a preview of what other states may attempt next.