The National Firearms Act was a federal law passed in 1934 that regulated machine guns. According to the The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, firearms subject to the law include shotguns and rifles with barrels less than 18 inches and 16 inches, respectively, certain firearms described as “any other weapons,” machine guns and firearm mufflers, silencers and destructive devices.
The law was passed following several high-profile shootings in the early 20th century, especially those involving the Thompson submarine gun, or “Tommy gun,” often used by mobsters.
The NFA imposes a tax-and-registration system on purchasers of machine guns, silencers and short-barreled rifles and shotguns, according to the ATF. Buyers are fingerprinted and photographed, go through a background check, their weapons registered, and they must pay a $200 fee. Until recently, the $200 fee hasn’t changed since the law was originally passed. But in the Trump administration’s latest spending bill, the fee has been removed and gun owners will no longer need to pay the fee starting Jan. 1, 2026. Following the bill’s passing, several gun rights groups sued to keep the fee in place.