I’m impressed – all of my life, short-barreled rifles and silencers have been illegal. Now, with my dues paid to Gun Owners of America, I can build a silencer (a relatively simple project) and a short-barreled rifle (also a simple project) without violating federal law (and that was a $5,000 and five years in the big house for each just a little while ago).
Now the deterrent is Montana law – our Attorney General, Austin Knudsen has pointed out that Montana law still prohibits these items unless they have a tax stamp – but the article ( Attorney General Knudsen issues legal guidance following Silencer Shop ruling – Montana Department of Justice ) also explains “Ahead of the 2027 Montana Legislative session, legislation has been introduced to alter or remove Montana’s criminal penalties for possession, manufacturing, or transferring silencers, SBRs, and SBSs.”
With any luck, Montana’s legislature will get rid of this law in the next session, and I’ll be able to put a stock on my old Metallic Silhouette pistol by June. It will be nice to be steadier with that 14 inch barrel – I’m a lot shakier after 75 than I was at 35.
In 1968, passage of the Gun Control Act had me convinced that the gun control movement would soon succeed in banning handguns – to the extent that I bought cap and ball revolvers which were unregulated. 48 years later, I’ve seen that political force turned back. They’re still trying for gun control in Hawaii and on the coasts – but I will be able to build a suppressor, and have a short-barreled rifle next Spring. It’s been a long political fight – but parts of the National Firearms Act of 1934 have been found unconstitutional.
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