United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- How Second Amendment supporters address the potential threat posed by the National Firearms Act to our Second Amendment rights is something that has to be planned starting today, BEFORE the attacks in the wake of a successful court ruling come. Failing to plan is planning to fail, and failure should not be an option.
The first thing to understand is that outright repeal of the National Firearms Act is not happening any time soon. What can be done is to reform the process by which firearms (and certain accessories) covered under this act are transferred, as part of an incremental approach to securing our rights. Yes, this is the “incrementalism” approach – one that has been highly successful over the last three decades on concealed carry.
The fact of the matter is that when we are taking on highly onerous legislation, taking it all out in one fell swoop only happens with a massive stroke of luck, or it provokes a massive backlash. Trusting luck is foolish enough – provoking a massive backlash is stupid, given the nature of our enemies. But as the recent signing of constitutional carry in Texas shows, incrementalism works.
So, what incremental steps can be taken when it comes to the National Firearms Act?
Much will depend on just what the legislative and political landscape will look like. As a given, the current anti-Second Amendment extremist regimes in the House, Senate, and White House be defeated at the ballot box before any reform can be taken. But once we have a pro-Second Amendment Congress and White House, what do we pursue?
First, Second Amendment supporters can modernize the NFA process. This is one example where the “lemon” of the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) can be turned into lemonade. Changing the process from one that depends on local law enforcement certification to an FBI background check would probably go over well with the American people. The tax stamps could then be paid as a surcharge to NICS. Such a bill would not create a perfect situation by any means, but it would represent a good “first step.”
If the situation permits, then Second Amendment supporters might be able to push for repeal of both the 1986 Hughes Amendment and the 1968 restrictions on imports. At the same time, nothing would prevent adding the Hearing Protection Act and the Home Defense and Competitive Shooting Act to the NFA reform measure. But the important point is to defang the NFA as a potential tool for harassing and obstructing efforts to exercise Second Amendment rights.
To do that, Second Amendment supporters need to work to oust the current anti-Second Amendment regimes in the House, Senate, and White House, and they need to support NRA-ILA and NRA-PVF.
About Harold Hutchison
Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.
To answer the question in the headline. It should be abolished.
The NFA was admitted to be an unconstitutional infringement at the time it was debated in 1934, by the AG and members of the senate, Harold. The only way to address this repugnant and thus entirely unlawful infringement is to abolish it, along with every other law that purports to regulate firearms, a power We the People never ceded to the gov.
The S. Ct can declare it unconstitutional, so why can not the co-equal executive branch declare the NFA unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it?
An individual president could order the justice department and treasury to cease enforcement, but can’t do anything that would impede enforcement by future presidential administrations. The courts, however, are big on “precedent.” If the supremes declare it unconstitutional, it should have a lasting effect. Look how long Roe vs Wade was considered sacred, and it was a flawed decision.
The first thing we should do is stop shilling for the NRA, and support organizations that aren’t mired in controversy with proven track records like: SAF, GOA, and FPC. Then we can talk about a path forward.
Little Quisling Harold doesn’t know how to stop shilling for the NRA. He’s the proud owner of a pair of official Wayne LaPierre kneepads.
Now THAT is funny!
“The first thing to understand is that outright repeal of the National Firearms Act is not happening any time soon.”
Why?
Because it is Harold Hutchinson and he is incapable of grasping anything other than the slow frog boil loss of the 2A.
Why? Because the NRA supports the National Firearms Act!
They not only support it, they helped write it!!!
that was then, 1934. why do libs hate and fear the NRA today? WLP and his team is the answer.
today’s NRA is very different than when it originated. learn it. face it!
My Question exactly !
Because a large percentage of Americans refuse to look at the data that is readily available about firearms and crime. Because they remain willfully ignorant, they want to retain the NFA of 1934 and implement more gun control laws. Politicians want to get elected, so they don’t rock the boat. The same circumstances apply to a large group of pro Second Amendment voters on other issues. They are willfully ignorant about the way relatively free markets work and the U.S. tax system. They display their willful ignorance almost every day in the ammo section when they dream up all sorts… Read more »
Wow jumble-of-letters guy, you are all over the friggin’ map.
Read it again Roland.
Sorry. Get it. Thanx
No problem. Have a good day.
Same to ya’, brother.
As Tucker Carlson said recently… “Why should we have to pay any taxes? They print up all they need!”
I agree. Taxes are just a form of punishment for people with high IQs who apply themselves and make good decisions and one more way to redistribute wealth from industrious people to slackers and people who make poor decisions. At this point, our tax system has very little to do with raising funds to run a lean government. Every attempt is being made to overload the system so totalitarians can claim that capitalism doesn’t work and it must be replaced with something that is “equitable.” The Cloward-Piven strategy took a big step forward when totalitarians used COVID-19 to tank the… Read more »
“Who is John Galt?”
John Galt is the systems worst nightmare! A citizen that refuses to be a slave. The State cannot afford for that attitude to spread. How would they keep their subjects enslaved if they learn that they could be free? 🙂
The left has been “progressively” dumbing down the population for at least 50 years. That makes it easier to get them to “reason” with their emotional responses, and blame the implement of the crime, rather than the offender.
Harold, Harold, Harold…how did the NFA get into place? Was it “incrementalism” or did they simply shove it down our throats? I’d say it needs to go away the same way it came into existence. ALL AT ONCE with FULL SUPPORT of the CONSTITUTION.
NFA should and has to be fully repealed, and tossed in the trash bin of anti gun history. . Once and for all. Same with the ATF too.
And the NRA
“Reformed”???? good grief are you serious
REPEALED
… but it’s harold
Harold, WAKE UP!!!! Full repeal of the entire act is the ONLY Constitutional remedy.
This republic’s founding documents state that government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. I don’t consent, thus the government is unjust, criminal, and tyrannical. Regardless of how the SCOTUS defines my rights, that is the case. This argument is so air-tight that not even an airhead like you can refute it. My refusal to submit to a contract to which I never agreed means that the other party is simply attacking me, my rights, and my other property under color of law. They have no leg to stand on in any court anywhere. Be we all… Read more »
How can you be so consistently wrong?
I’m not sure how this post of mine got here, but it’s obviously out of place.
The NFA should be looked at by the current SCOTUS under strict scrutiny, which it most likely would not withstand. However, I think we can approach a slow dismantling or neutering of the NFA; but it will require a pro 2A majority in congress which will be an uphill battle. The current issue with braced-pistols and 12ga “firearms” has established the attention that these firearms are no more lethal than any other and to look at current military issue, such firearm sizes are common. Eliminate the stupid barrel length restrictions, SBR, SBS, and even AOW from the NFA. Second, the… Read more »
I concur. We need common sense gun control reform and your comment would be a good start.
I’d add national reciprocity (first step to national constitutional carry) and strengthening innocent traveler protections to cover more and have teeth. After all it’s just common sense.
I reject the premise of the title question; “How should the NFA be reformed?” It really can’t be reformed. However, short of many small miracles in the courts; we have to deal with the reality of politicians who will only do the right & constitutional thing if it is congruent with their personal interests. I think if the SAF, FPC, GOA, JPFO, NSSF & even the LaPierre squishes in the NRA can unite on a legislative / judicial agenda some headway might be made. So… I think Rock6’s approach is best. Pick your battles, have a consistent legislative and electoral agenda & have a… Read more »
As a first step, remove SBRs and suppressors from the law.
As a first step , remove ALL RINOs from both houses, we always expect them to help us…they never do.
no, don’t expect the body that created this boondoggle to undo it. File an action before SCOTUS proving it is unconstitutinal, demand STRICT scrutitny be applied, and force the court to do its job. Toss the whole mess. First letter to final full-stop.
The courts are in on the treason to the Constitution. No level, branch or agency of the government remains legitimate. All is corrupted save for a few scant individuals in gov’t like Judge Benitez. No part of the gov’t can or ought to be trusted to do ANYTHING right!
It’s time to water that Liberty Tree.
…AND short barreled shotguns. There is not even a good illogical reason for this restriction.
As s first step, remove the law. I have 2 submachineguns, a WWII era Thompson, and a Vietnam War era technology Ingram. Its absurd, both the purchase price, and the unavailability of anything more modern.
As a first step, stop bowing to the will of traitors and scumbag enforcers of tyrannical “law.” Then the rest of the pieces magically fall into place.
dump it and try agents who committed crimes under guise of law
TRUE —– unless you happen to be a DemoKKKrat!!!!!!!!!!
Fine; just hang them.
No, here in Texas we recognize, some folks just need killing.
Dont be squeamish.
If that doesn’t work hang them again!
Let all of criminal society take notice!
You too lovers keep kissing Trump’s junk, but his & Jarvanka’s jailbreak pandering is partly responsible for Eliza Fletcher’s murder.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1567235180019990530.html
Complete and absolute repeal of the act and getting rid of the BATFE is the ONLY effective way. Anything else is supporting and encouraging the act and BATF. Any compromise of your Constitutional rights is failure.
Nullify it. There is no other reform necessary for an unconstitutional Act.
Convert Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms into a chain of neighborhood convenience stores.
I would LOVE to OUST the communists in OUR government. However, it is very hard to do that when the VOTE COUNTERS — ARE USING FRAUDULENT COUNTING EQUIPMENT!!!!!!
When the ballot box and the jury box have both become corrupted, only the ammo box is left. But that box is hard to corrupt!
https://www.johnlocke.org/update/liberties-dependent-upon-the-ballot-box-the-jury-box-and-the-cartridge-box/
It SHOULD be repealed, but until we get real Republican Patriots in control of the Presidency and Congress with a majority, it isn’t going to happen.
As long as we have rigged elections, things will not change.
Republicans have no interest in repealing arms laws. They’ve had complete control on numerous occasions since 1934 and all they’ve done is enact more arms laws. Until people wake up and realize Republicans are not on our side then nothing will change.
POLITICIANS are not on our side. PERIOD. Doesn’t matter which “party”.
+1
Most Republican politicians are in favor of more gun control laws:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?441884-1/president-trump-calls-comprehensive-gun-bill
Yup. Look at John Cornyn!
I hate that arrogant SOB.
lol… two times is numerous? riiiiiiiite.
It’s five times since 1934. During the 83rd, 107th, 108th, 109th, 115th sessions of Congress, Republicans had complete control of Washington.
Republicans have had complete control multiple times in the past. I failed to notice any earthshaking reforms or return to constitutionalism. Maybe I missed something. Once these people get into office their only interest seems to be staying there forever. (and getting filthy rich)
We need to learn who the RINOs are and vote them out, the others will get the hint.
Hanging them would be a stronger hint.
The NFA needs to go. Completely! It is unconstitutional to infringe on a right. It is also unconstitutional to tax a right.
The taxation is actually on the transaction, but taxation is not the real purpose of the statute. The best challenge to the constitutionality of the NFA is a substantive due process challenge. IMHO
The ATF should be a convenience store.
ATFE, don’t forget the “E.” Every strip mall with Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms stores should also have a fireworks stand.
Yup, and I sure wish the would give us our cherry bombs back. Ordinary everyday firecrackers just arent enough fo a good Huey model.
Not if it’s run by the government. They can’t make a profit on anything. Government theft, waste and redundant loss billions of dollars per years.
The NFA is unconstitutional and should be repealed along with any law after that stood on the base of the NFA. If you want to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals then keep them in jail. If you want to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill then keep them in secure facilities.
With a Bic lighter and a large ash tray.
Little Quisling Harold… you’re a FUDD. We don’t want “reform” of infringements, we want ABSOLUTE REPEAL!
Also, ABOLISH THE BATF!
This constant bashing of Harold is childish. It is downright stupid to keep up the drumbeat of criticism. You guys are idiots.
What you fail to grasp is that stupidity, and fuddery in particular, requires punishment. Nobody likes a shill, either. Harold gets the trifecta.
Awe, does your vagina hurt?
Yup. You got me.
Reformed? Are you f’ing kidding me?
Harold, why don’t you start writing for Ladies Home Journal.
Probly fit in with that pouty come-hither-&-fertilize-my-eggs routine. Evidently worked on LaPierre.
Filthy mind. Filthy writing.
Prissy priss mind, prissy priss writing, prissy priss nagging, prissy priss bloviating, prissy priss imaginary combat career.
Tpo effin’ funny!
I knew it had to be Harold. Darn stoopid question.
REPEALED. Unconstitutional along with ALL other restrictions and limitations.
Boy, you need a job with the Negotiating Rights Away
your knowledge of the nra is lacking…. again. today’s leadership is nothing like it was back then. not even close.
Today’s leadership is responsible for the Hughes Amendment, import bans, NICS, bumpstock ban, FixNICS, and supporting red flag laws. All of which happened under, and sometimes with the help of, Wayne.
1934 treason NEEDS TO BE REPEALED (as well as the 1968 add on, called the “gun control act”) but surrogates of the globalist owners of the “fed” bank and CIA totally entirely control congress. These powers overthrew the constitution in 1933 after a planned depression. They took our guns and gold in 1934. These powers are working to enforce their 1933 overthrow of our constitution (a big reason they planned the 9/11 attacks and “patriot” acts). Most of the NFA and the 1968 add-on (called the “gun control act”) is so blatantly unconstitutional it could never survive court challenge UNLESS… Read more »
FPC are also very active
should be brought in front of scotus and sunk it was set up by demoncrats as first step in confiscation just does not apply to criminals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haynes_v._United_States it is not crime control
fbi is really out of control, dont know what drugs they have been taking but there is no one there that shows an iq higher than 30
The HIMWICs at the Fat Boy Institute are addicted to a very powerful drug … power.
I have no problem eviscerating the NFA incrementally. As long as we do it.
It has been 88 years of denied Rights already.
…Soon.
Cheap drugs will do that to you.
Harold, I have pretty quiet for the last few months regarding you and your crap.
But I really, REALLY don’t want to hear it anymore.
Friggin’ go away already!
i thing nfa could be reformed all secondary school kids required safe gun handling, highschools teach marksmanship, shop class in repair and manufacturing
With extreme prejudice.
Total REPEAL.
How is it that this article was posted on September 5, 2022 and all the comments are showing up as posted “1 year ago”?
So many believe getting rid of the NFA can happen instantly. Not without a total change of our elected officials. Maybe down the road, but not now. Gotta work with what we can get.
Let NRA finally step up to the plate, and perhaps others will follow.
The NRA is too busy holding Wayne’s purse as he goes on a shopping spree waiting to pay for his new cloths.
It’ll happen when elephants fly, maybe in your lifetime Harold, but probably not in mine.
I just knew Little Harold wrote this. The NFA (and GCA) need to be repealed, not “reformed”!!! Let’s repeal all gun laws so we can drive a stake into the heart of the BATF!!
Moreover, NOT A SINGLE PENNY TO NRA TILL WAYNE IS FIRED AND THE NRA IS FUNDAMENTALLY REFORMED!!! IDGAF about how Harold has no gag reflex when shilling for the NRA; NONE OF US ARE GOING TO COMPROMISE! So Harold, take your incrementalism and “support the NRA” line of Bravo Sierra AND CHAMBER THAT IN YOUR BREECH!
On a related topic:
Any chance we could repeal/reform Harold?
Hmm…. I don’t think so. I remember there was a petition to the editors to dump Harold and even though the numbers were there, Ammoland hunkered down & ignored their readers. Then they perma-zucced the guy organizing that petition. So Harold is still as annoying and wrong as Geraldo Rivera is. Ammoland definitely condones Harold because everyone here that argues with Harold is giving Ammoland the clicks they need to grab that $$$$
Real journalism is dead. Jared (Guns & Gadgets) and John Crump are the only real journos that I know.
Clicks? Advertisers think folks who read HH are likely to hop over & click on the sales? Seems more like someone’s coughing up PAYOLA to run his quisling crap. Same for ATF, NSSF, and Workman – whose swing vote betrayal put LaPierre’s “Winning Team” grifters in power. The respective payors are obvious.
Congrats, you triggered the fudds & commies in here and received several downvotes in under a half-hour’s time. You are winrar and get an internet!
LOL. FUDDs, commies, a prissy-naggy self-styled military-legal-combat-grammar-ranching LEGEND, his butthurt low-IQ LEO sock puppeteer sycophant, and AGENTS.
Wassup OpeTEXBruceWillFordWill? 4mins/4 DVs & here I am! Sweet
“Gay Caballeros“ WB & OfficerOpe will like this from True Grit:
“How long you boys been mounted on sheep down there?”
(You know, TEXAS, like a whole other country where 2/3 of teachers & staff are disarmed and ABBOTT & his trusty Sidecuck PHELAN take cash from sex change mills to protect child sex change ops and cut vote fraud from felony to misdemeanor!)
OTT! Ahhhh! Another successful bombing run
A wide-ranging discussion with many views is what truth seekers require. It’s not going to hurt anyone.
I agree. Besides, Harold is fun. Comic relief.
Does anyone else find it hysterical that this guy wants everyone to support the very organization that helped enact these infringements?
I cannot speak for others, but for me, “this guy” isn’t funny but rather INFURIATING! He has worn out a thousand pairs of autographed & official Wayne LaPierre KNEEPADS!!
Why Ammoland keeps publishing this 5th-rate journalistic hack’s screeds is a complete mystery!
His “writer for SOF Magazine” drivel or whatever his claim is, makes me want to subject him to real-world violence.
I followed Colonel Bob McKenzie in and around SOF for many years, before the cannibals ate him; and Little Harold isn’t fit to carry his chamber pot.
Yes, but in the real world, it won’t happen all at once. Harold’s steps may be only a bit correct but the overall idea is workable.
We all like to beat up on Harold for doing his job, but in this instance he is right. The NFA has as much chance of being removed as Kamala Harris has of becoming an effective and much loved President known for championing individual liberties. To Harold’s question: Remove short barreled rifles from the NFA. With the technological advancements in handguns and ammunition over the past 100 years, the concept of a SBR as an extra deadly concealable weapon is an anachronism. It’s removal will also end the ignorant argument and wasted resources concerning arm braces. Remove “silencers/mufflers” from the… Read more »
Harold is absolutely, dead wrong, just like every other time he opens his binky hole.
All the usual commenters will make all the usual comments about this, exactly the same as all the usual complaints about everything Harold writes — and usually I would be one of them, but oddly enough Harold is correct that the NFA will not be repealed (not just “any time soon” but ever, unless it is replaced by more of the same with just a new name). The first step to reforming the NFA (which should have happened in 2017!) is to remove suppressors entirely — not just treat them as firearms (although we might have to settle for that).… Read more »
I’m thinking that it is less likely for the law enforcement functions to be withdrawn from ALL the federal regulatory agencies and placed in a single agency, than BATFE being decommissioned.
There is precedent for the decommissioning of a federal agency, and BATFE could be ended by the drafting of a single memo. BATFE was created by a memo, and can be ended by a revocation memo.
There is no precedence for withdrawing the law enforcement function from ALL federal regulatory agencies, and transferring that authority to a single agency, and that would require more than a memo.
The Fat Boy Institute was also created by a memo during the Theodore Roosevelt administration and can be destroyed by a memo during the next Trump administration.
I have a copy of the Fan Belt Inspector creation memo, but I can not figure out how to post it as an Ammoland comment.
Yes, all of the ladies and gentlemen at main justice sit at the pleasure of the president. Any president could have the USDOJ building empty by noon on any given day.
I am not so sure that Donald Trump is a friend of the Second Amendment. Based on his first term track record, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for him to disestablish the BATFE! Remember Trump encouraged the “ruling” banning bump stocks. I didn’t own one and never desired one but it is still an “infringement”!
we dont think he will do it for us but in retaliation for what they have been trying to do to him i can just imagine the resending memo do to your continuous illegal acts , all ex members of fbi/doj will report to Leavenworth
Whatever the motives, we would all benefit.
Ya? You believe this based on what?
Based on being a bloviating toady for Abbott & Trump.
We are all just guessing at a future scenario. I predict that the vet will make his ranch call on time. Highly unlikely, but my guess.
Same for not getting run over while crossing the street in the cross walk. Even more tenuous are the weather and the stock market. We all guess every day.
Bloviating for your organ grinder’s approval again. You two should get a room.
We should give him the benefit of the doubt. After all he is the record holder … record holder for the most number of disapproving votes!
Who put sand in your vagina yesterday, Bill? Don’t be so coy. You know your pet monkey Ope runs a sock puppet downvote posse.
“Bill, President Donald J Trump will have the ATF abolished and NFA rescinded once he’s back in office. He might even go after the FBI too.”
Wow! I’ve heard some whoppers in my day but that one just might top them all!
“Sarge, President Donald J Trump’s going to fix everything! He shore will! Goooolllleeeee! Duh huh!”
-Officer Ope, Certified Genius (aka TEX, Bruce, Will, FORDWill et socks)
“Bill, President Donald J Trump will have the ATF abolished and NFA rescinded once he’s back in office. He might even go after the FBI too.”
-Officer Ope, WB toady, aka TEX, Bruce, Will, FordWillk et socks
hahahahaha classic! Saving for posterity since it deletes many of its posts.
Harrold is right, incremental steps work. Both Oklahoma and Texas showed that with recent changes allowing open carry. Nothing happens overnight.
Also make sure you have carry ‘insurance’ from a good legal services membership like CCWsafe or USCCA; in the event that the communist ‘Ministry of Truth’ MSM decides to make an example of you like they tried to do to Kyle Rittenhouse.
Having a self-defense 2A attorney like Andrew Branca (LOSD) is critical!
Harold “Beau” (as in Geste) Hutchins! Sometimes I make myself laugh, I am so funny.
Somebodies must not be very well read.
Odd. Seems every HH piece features 2 ‘prag’ scatterbrains yapping and a lick job on NRA or some quisling politician.
STRIKE GROUP ROGAINE!
This was downvoted because sock puppeteer Officer Ope loves Harold Hutchinson’s junk.