The National Firearms Act (NFA) is a United States federal law that was enacted in 1934. The primary purpose of the NFA is to regulate and tax certain firearms and accessories that are considered to be particularly dangerous or have a high potential for criminal use. The NFA was passed in response to concerns about the criminal use of certain types of firearms, particularly during the Prohibition era.

Key provisions of the National Firearms Act include the following:

  1. Registration and Taxation: The NFA requires the registration and taxation of certain firearms and devices, including machine guns, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, silencers (suppressors), destructive devices (such as grenades and certain explosives), and any other weapons (AOWs), a category that includes certain types of firearms that don’t fit typical definitions.
  2. Background Checks: Individuals wishing to purchase or possess NFA-regulated firearms or devices must undergo a thorough background check conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
  3. Transfer Restrictions: The transfer of NFA-regulated firearms and devices between individuals must be approved by the ATF, and a tax must be paid for each transfer.
  4. Record-Keeping: Owners of NFA-regulated items are required to maintain detailed records of their acquisitions and dispositions, and these records must be made available to the ATF upon request.

The NFA imposes strict regulations on the ownership and transfer of certain firearms and accessories, and compliance with its provisions is mandatory. Failure to comply with the NFA can result in criminal penalties.

The NFA does not prohibit the ownership of the regulated items but imposes regulations and restrictions on their possession, transfer, and manufacture.

NFA Firearms List

Short Barreled Rifles A rifle with a barrel less than 16” long.

Short Barreled Shotguns A shotgun with a barrel less than 18” long.

Fully Automatic Weapons A firearm that fires more than once by a single action of the trigger.

Any Other Weapons Any weapon or device capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be discharged through the energy of an explosive, but does not meet the definition of a rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, or machine gun.

Silencers Any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm.

 

See https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/national-firearms-act for more info.