10/10/2026
🚨 Important Update for Ohio Gun Owners & Customers 🚨
Effective October 9, 2026, the ATF has announced it will no longer enforce certain National Fi****ms Act (NFA) requirements for short-barreled ri**es (SBRs), short-barreled sh****ns (SBSs), suppressors/silencers, and “any other weapons” (AOWs).
What this means federally: • No prior ATF approval (Form 1 or Form 4) required before making or transferring these items • No mandatory registration in the National Fi****ms Registration and Transfer Record • $0 tax remains in effect • Voluntary registration is still available if you want it
What has NOT changed: • Machine guns and destructive devices remain fully regulated under the NFA (including the $200 tax) • Form 4473 and NICS background checks are still required • Prohibited persons are still prohibited • Interstate transport of SBRs and SBSs may still involve Form 20 requirements
Ohio state law is different and still applies.
Under Ohio Revised Code, suppressors and “sawed-off” fi****ms (which include most SBRs and SBSs) are classified as “dangerous ordnance.” Possessing them without a qualifying exemption is a fifth-degree felony.
The primary civilian exemption requires the item to be registered in the federal NFRTR. Because ATF is no longer requiring that registration, an unregistered suppressor, SBR, or SBS that is fine under the new federal enforcement policy may still violate Ohio law.
Senate Bill 214, which would remove suppressors from the dangerous ordnance definition, passed the Ohio Senate but has not yet become law.
Bottom line for Ohio customers: Federal non-enforcement does not automatically make these items legal to possess in Ohio without registration. Voluntary federal registration remains the clearest path to the state exemption under current law. Always confirm the latest status of pending legislation and consult a qualified Ohio attorney before making or transferring these items.
This is not legal advice. Laws and enforcement can change. When in doubt, ask a lawyer.