Inside President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” are gun policy changes that are already drawing fierce opposition from Senate Democrats.
Among the provisions is a proposal to remove short-barrel rifles, shotguns, and suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA). If successful, these items would no longer be taxed or registered by the federal government.
This move would eliminate the $200 tax and the requirement to register with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The policy comes straight from the SHORT Act—short for Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today—championed by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga.
Marshall told Fox News Digital that this addition makes Trump’s bill “even more beautiful.” Clyde added that the changes would “restore our Second Amendment rights.”
But Senate Democrats are preparing to fight back. They're eyeing the “Byrd Bath” process to strip the gun language from the bill under budget rules.
"Taxation and registration of firearms under the draconian NFA are inseparably linked," Clyde said. He remained confident the provision would pass the Byrd Rule test and called it a “constitutional victory.”
Marshall wasn’t too worried either. “That’s what reconciliation bills are supposed to deal with, is taxes,” he said, pointing to the NFA’s tax-based structure.
He also noted that reconciliation is likely the only way to get this done without 60 votes. “I don't see another way to do it,” Marshall said.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, didn’t give specifics on strategy but warned that reconciliation should be about budget—not “ideological trophy” items.