The SHORT Act (Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today Act) would fundamentally change how certain weapons are regulated at the federal level. It would remove short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and other weapons referenced by the National Firearms Act (NFA) from the definition of “firearms” for purposes of federal regulation under the Internal Revenue Code. In practical terms, these weapons would lose their federal NFA status, reducing or eliminating federal NFA registration, licensing, and transfer controls on them. The bill would also preempt state and local taxes or registration requirements tied to these weapons, and it would require the destruction of NFRTR records and related transfer/maker applications for weapons covered by the act within a year. There are transition provisions to treat state registration requirements as satisfied for those who acquire or possess these weapons in compliance with federal law, and a 90-day (plus) effective date for the changes related to classification.
Key Points
- 1Redefinition of Firearm: The act amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns (and other weapons tied to the NFA) from the definition of firearms. It also revises related provisions to ensure these weapons are no longer treated as firearms under the NFA for tax and transfer purposes, with the change taking effect for calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after enactment.
- 2Elimination of NFA Treatment: The bill repeals the special NFA treatment of SBRs/SBSs and related devices in the parts of the law that currently classify these weapons as firearms or describe their regulatory framework, including references in 18 U.S.C. and related sections.
- 3Preemption of State/Local Regulation: The act adds a preemption provision stating that state or local taxes (excluding generally applicable sales/use taxes) and marking/recordkeeping/registration requirements on short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, or other NFA-referenced weapons shall have no force or effect. This aims to stop state/local regulatory schemes targeting these weapons.
- 4Transitional Provisions Related to State Compliance: The bill includes a provision stating that, for any state or local registration or licensing requirements tied to these weapons and determined by reference to the NFA, a person acquiring or possessing the weapon in compliance with federal law remains treated as meeting such requirements.
- 5Destruction of Records: Within 365 days of enactment, the Attorney General would destroy certain NFA-related records, including registrations in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record and related transfer/application records for weapons deemed “applicable” under the act, which are defined according to pre-enactment language of the NFA.