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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Alanna Durkin Richer

Justice Department won't enforce registration rules on silencers and certain guns after court ruling

Justice Department Deportation Court - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The Justice Department moved Friday to allow more people to purchase firearm suppressors — known as silencers — short-barreled rifles and certain other guns without registering them with the federal government following a court ruling that struck down provisions of a key law.

The Trump administration announced the broad enforcement policy changes after a Texas judge in August ruled the permitting process was unconstitutional. The judge's ruling was limited to the parties involved in that case, but the Justice Department said Friday it would no longer enforce the registration requirements more broadly.

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