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Gun nuts froth as Todd Blanche goes back on his word to keep 92-year ban in place

rawstory.com · 8h · first reportShare

Attorney General Todd Blanche let a 92-year federal ban on unregistered gun silencers and short-barreled rifles collapse, days after telling senators his duty was to defend it. The appeal deadline passed Wednesday without a filing from the Justice Department, and gun-rights groups wasted no time. Congress zeroed out the $200 National Firearms Act tax on silencers and short-barreled rifles in last year's budget bill, according to the Congressional Record , and a federal judge ruled earlier this month that the registration requirements built around that tax fell with it. Gun Owners of America and Silencer Shop scheduled the first unregistered suppressor transfers since 1934 for 12:01 a.m. Wednesday at Silencer Shop's Texas storefront. "Literally, greatest Second Amendment win in the history of our country is what I believe," Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) said at the event, according to remarks provided by his office. Blanche's silence made the celebration possible — but just weeks earlier, he