The Big Beautiful Backfire:
How Colorado Could Lose Suppressor Rights Without Section 3 of the Hearing Protection Act
- By Alicia Garcia
June 7, 2025
At first glance, the proposed federal legislation to deregulate firearm suppressors—coined the “Big Beautiful Bill”—looks like a long-awaited win for gun owners nationwide. The bill promises to remove suppressors from the burdensome National Firearms Act (NFA), eliminate the outdated $200 tax stamp, and treat suppressors like any other non-NFA firearm accessory. There is a catch. Alicia Garcia with The 2nd Syndicate explains that for law-abiding gun owners in Colorado and at least 17+ other states, that “win” could turn into a catastrophic loss of rights unless Congress adds a crucial piece of language: Section 3 of the Hearing Protection Act (HPA).
This is not a minor technicality. Without Section 3—and without federal preemption—millions of Americans will lose legal access to suppressors the second this bill becomes law.
The Legal Trap in Colorado
Under current Colorado law (CRS 18-12-102), suppressors are classified as “dangerous weapons.” Their possession is only legal when the individual has a “valid permit and license.” For decades, the federal NFA tax stamp has been interpreted as fulfilling that requirement, effectively serving as Colorado’s proxy for lawful suppressor ownership.
If the Big Beautiful Bill strips away the NFA registration and tax stamp process but does not replace it with a new legally recognized mechanism, then Colorado gun owners will suddenly find themselves without any legal path to buy or possess suppressors—despite federal deregulation.
That is not just ironic. It is devastating.
The result? What was intended as a pro-gun reform would instead criminalize the very people it was meant to protect in states like Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, Michigan, Georgia, and more.
The Solution: Section 3 of the Hearing Protection Act
Thankfully, there is a fix—but it must be included in the final bill.
Section 3 of the Hearing Protection Act ensures that any individual who purchases a suppressor using a standard background check through ATF Form 4473 will be considered in compliance with any state or local licensing or registration law that used to rely on the NFA.
In other words, it legally replaces the tax stamp with the same background check already used for standard firearms. This provision creates a bridge for suppressor ownership to remain legal in restrictive states like Colorado.
Let us be clear: The 2nd Syndicate does not endorse or favor the Form 4473 system. We have long held concerns about government overreach, centralized data collection, and the misuse of firearm transaction records. However, under current law in states like Colorado, the 4473 is the only available federal mechanism that can substitute for the NFA tax stamp and preserve lawful ownership.
It is a means to an end—not a permanent solution—but the only one available to ensure Coloradans are not disarmed by default.
Without it, the moment the NFA tax stamp disappears, so does the only recognized legal justification for ownership in these jurisdictions. That means no new purchases, no transfers, no possession—no rights.
Federal Preemption: Stopping the States from Rebuilding the NFA
Section 3 is the minimum necessary for suppressor deregulation to work in Colorado. But to truly safeguard against future abuse, federal preemption must also be included.
That is where Section 4 of the HPA comes in. This section prohibits states from imposing their own suppressor-specific taxes, registration schemes, or licensing requirements—ensuring that once the federal burden is lifted, states cannot just build their own version of the NFA in its place.
Colorado is already trending in that direction. Just this year, SB25-003 advanced sweeping state-level gun control that would require FFLs and instructors to obtain new licenses and undergo government-approved training. If suppressors are removed from federal oversight without preemption, anti-gun legislators will seize the opportunity to regulate them harder than ever at the state level.
Federal preemption would stop that cold.
The Truth About Suppressors
Suppressors are not sinister tools from spy movies—they are safety equipment:
Suppressors reduce the sound of gunfire to hearing-safe levels, typically around 130 decibels. That is still loud—louder than a jackhammer—but much safer than the 160+ decibels of an unsuppressed firearm.
Suppressors are legal in over forty states and used widely for hunting, sport shooting, and personal protection. They do not “silence” a firearm. They simply mitigate the explosive noise that damages hearing and disturbs communities.
Adding a suppressor to a rifle often increases its length by 6 to 12 inches and adds significant weight to the muzzle. For smaller statured individuals, youth, and disabled shooters, suppressors can make shooting more challenging—not easier—without properly fitted firearms or shorter platforms.
Suppressors make firearms safer and more accessible—not more dangerous. Removing the regulatory burden is long overdue. But it must be done correctly, or the consequences will be worse than the status quo.
A Warning to Colorado Gun Owners: This Bill Could Backfire
If Congress passes the Big Beautiful Bill without Section 3 or preemption, it will strip Colorado gun owners of their ability to buy, own, or transfer suppressors—period.
This is not theoretical. This is current law.
This outcome is not just bad policy—it is a betrayal of the Second Amendment community that worked to make this bill a reality in the first place.
A Call to Action for Colorado Republicans and Gun Owners
We urge every citizen of Colorado who values the right to own suppressors to immediately contact the following leaders:
- Senator Mike Crapo (Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee)
- House Speaker Mike Johnson
- Senator John Barrasso
- Chairman Andy Harris, M.D. (House Freedom Caucus)
- Your local U.S. Representative and Senator
Tell them:
“Fix the bill before it breaks Colorado. Include Section 3 of the HPA and federal preemption. Do not legalize suppressors for some and criminalize them for others.”
This is not about compromise, it is about completing the mission.
In Closing
The 2nd Syndicate and the Colorado Federal Firearms Licensee Association (CFFLA) stand united in our support for full suppressor deregulation done right. The only path forward is through the inclusion of Section 3 and strong federal preemption language—provisions that ensure all Americans, including those in states like Colorado, are truly protected.
We encourage Congress to strengthen the Big Beautiful Bill by adopting the complete language of the Hearing Protection Act and the SHORT Act. These proven, well-crafted provisions will not only modernize federal firearms law but will also close dangerous state-level loopholes that would otherwise leave millions behind.
Let us get this right. Let us protect all gun owners. Let us finish the job.
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