PARTS Act of 2025 Protecting Americans’ Right To Silence Act of 2025
Impact
If enacted, this legislation would potentially enhance the legality and amount of information available regarding the manufacture and use of firearm mufflers and silencers. The updated definitions may solidify the legal status of current technologies and design methodologies in use today, influencing how firearms are perceived and potentially regulated.
Summary
Senate Bill 1039, known as the Protecting Americans’ Right To Silence Act of 2025, seeks to amend the definitions related to firearm silencers and mufflers found in section 921 of title 18 of the United States Code. The bill aims to clarify and expand the technical definitions of both terms within the context of federal firearms laws. This change is notable as it addresses methods by which these devices are designed and intended to minimize the sound produced by portable firearms.
Contention
There may be contention surrounding this bill, especially among various interest groups that have differing views on gun control and firearms regulation. Proponents may argue that clearer definitions aid in lawful firearm ownership and usage, while opponents might raise concerns over the implications of increased availability of silencers and the perception that firearms could become more appealing options for criminal use.
Legislative history
Currently, the bill has been read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The outcomes of further discussions in committee and the subsequent voting results will determine the future path of SB1039, reflecting broader societal and political debates on firearm regulation.
Hearing Protection Act This bill removes silencers from the definition of firearms for purposes of the National Firearms Act. It also treats persons acquiring or possessing a firearm silencer as meeting any registration and licensing requirements of such Act. The Department of Justice must destroy certain records relating to the registration, transfer, or making of a silencer. The bill also revises the definitions of firearm silencer and firearm muffler under the federal criminal code and includes such items in the 10% excise tax category.