H.R. 3034, titled the No Frivolous Application for Short-Barreled Shotguns Act (NFA SBS Act), would largely de-regulate short-barreled shotguns (SBS) at the federal level. The bill removes SBS from the definition of “firearms” for purposes of the National Firearms Act (NFA), which currently imposes registration, transfer, and other controls. It also tightens and then reorients some related provisions around destructive devices, federal/state alignment, state preemption, and recordkeeping. In short, the bill seeks to make SBS less subject to federal NFA regulation, preempt certain state rules, and eliminate or weaken federal record-keeping related to SBS, while establishing processes for state compliance where appropriate. It includes a short title and several transitional provisions, including a destruction of related records within a year.
Key Points
- 1Removes short-barreled shotguns from the NFA firearm definition. This includes striking out the 18-inch minimum barrel length and the 26-inch overall length thresholds, effectively declassifying SBS from NFA firearm status.
- 2Repackages the treatment of SBS within the “destructive device” framework by striking the sporting-purpose exemption and replacing it with a broader exception for shotgun shells and any weapon designed to shoot shotgun shells.
- 3Eliminates disparate treatment of SBS used for lawful purposes by removing references to “short-barreled shotgun” in certain criminal provisions (18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(4) and § 922(b)(4)).
- 4Allows state or local registration requirements for SBS to be treated as satisfied if the holder complies with federal registration/licensing requirements under Chapter 44 (U.S.C. § 5812) of the NFA, creating a state-federal conformity reference.
- 5Preempts certain state laws by barring taxes (other than general sales/use taxes) and marking/registration requirements on SBS, when those laws target SBS in interstate or foreign commerce.
- 6Requires destruction of NFRTR SBS-related records and related transfer or maker applications within 365 days of enactment, and defines “applicable shotgun” to include SBS as described or treated immediately before enactment.
- 7Establishes the Act’s effective provisions: Section 2 specifics apply to calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after enactment; other provisions align with their respective statutory references.