Name: Heres why more people are buying gun silencers in 2026
Uploaded: 2026-01-03T05:29:02.382Z
Duration: 2 min 37 s
Description: Gun supply stores are seeing sales surge after the latest federal budget eliminated a $200 tax on silencer purchases effective Jan. 1.

Gun supply stores are seeing sales surge after the latest federal budget eliminated a $200 tax on silencer purchases effective Jan. 1.

Cleveland

A federal budget signed by President Trump has removed the $200 tax on gun silencers, a fee that had been in place since the 1934 National Firearms Act. This change, effective January 1, 2026, has resulted in a surge of silencer purchases at gun shops nationwide, as buyers take advantage of the cost savings.

The tax, originally intended to curb organized crime during Prohibition, had not been adjusted for inflation and equated to over $4,000 in today's money. The new legislation also eliminates the tax for short barrel rifles and shotguns, with customers citing hearing protection and reduced noise for neighbors as primary reasons for increased silencer purchases.

Here's why more people are buying gun silencers in 2026

A new year means changes at gun shops for decades of a gun owner wanted to buy a silencer. It came with a hefty tax. But as News 5's Clay Lepard explains tonight from Jaga County, that just changed. And that means big business for gun shops all across the country. There's a reason Jeff Lawrence bought two gun suppressors also known as silencers today. If he'd bought them before January 1st, he'd be out an extra $200 for each of them. If you buy another one, it's another $200, so it adds up fast. And he's not the only one. Stopping by Great Lakes Outdoor Supply in Middlefield because of that. I would say probably double if not more. For years, this gun accessory had a $200 tax tied to it, but when President Trump signed the federal budget last year, the $200 tax went away on January 1. For a bit of a history lesson, the 1934 National Firearms Act put the $200 tax on silencers in place during Prohibition when organized crime proliferated. $200 in 1934 is about $4,300 today. So that money, that price, just has not changed in the past 90, 91 years. It was a different time back then during Prohibition. A little bit. Less speakeasies around here, yeah. This is our selection of suppressors. A single suppressor, which is meant to help minimize the noise when a shot is fired, can cost anywhere from $200 to $3,000. Nowadays, James Piper argues people are buying silencers around here as a way to avoid wearing hearing protection and to avoid disrupting neighbors for those hunting on their own property. Think of it as basically a jet engine turning on next to you or a fire engine right next to you compared to clapping your hand loudly next to your ear. That's about it. So again, it doesn't make it totally hearing safe for a lot of calibers, but it just makes it manageable. Thank you very much. A purchase Jeff Lawrence made today so he doesn't have to worry about his hearing later. You can shoot your gun without earphones on. It's noise suppression. That's what it's all about. It takes it down to acceptable levels. The budget bill also eliminates that same $200 tax for short barrel rifles and shotguns as well. In Geauga County, Clay Lippard, News 5.

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