A new bill introduced by two Republican U.S. Senators would protect gun owners from overreach by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in regard to firearm suppressors of “silencers.”

The Protecting Americans’ Right to Silence (PARTS) Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, and U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Montana, would modernize outdated federal regulations on firearm suppressors, providing much-needed clarity to manufacturers, retailers and law-abiding gun owners.

According to Sen. Cassidy, the ATF’s vague and outdated definition of “silencer” under the Gun Control Act could allow unelected bureaucrats to classify individual silencer components as regulated silencers, leading to unnecessary restrictions on gun owners and manufacturers. In 2023, the ATF issued guidance suggesting that even simple, unassembled parts could be considered regulated silencers—an overreach that threatens Second Amendment rights and stifles industry innovation.

The PARTS Act would help alleviate that potential overreach by updating the definition of ‘silencer’ to focus on complete devices and a single principal component—similar to a firearm’s frame or receiver—rather than broad, vague terms like “combination of parts” or “any part intended only for use” in a silencer. Additionally, it would ensure that gun owners could purchase replacement parts like wipes without burdensome ATF paperwork and prevent ATF from using subjective interpretation to unfairly target gun owners and businesses.

In a news release announcing the legislation, Sen. Sheehy said the measure addresses a problem that needs to be solved now.

“Montana is home to a proud firearms heritage and the most firearms and ammunition businesses per capita in the country,” he said. “The PARTS Act will go a long way in protecting this heritage and supporting businesses in Montana and across the country. I’m proud to lead this common-sense legislation to cut red tape and ensure Americans can exercise their Second Amendment rights safely and freely.”

Along with support from suppressor makers and the American Suppressor Association, the measure is also being backed by the National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and Firearm Regulatory Accountability Coalition. 

Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF’s senior vice president for Government & Public Affairs, said it is long past time for Congress to pass a measure providing clarity and consistency on such an important issue.

“Sen. Sheehy’s Protecting Americans’ Right to Silence (PARTS) Act does just that by redefining ‘silencer’ to match the term’s generally accepted meaning of a complete firearm accessory,” Keane said. “The current definition of ‘silencer’ includes unfinished parts or replacement components. The current definition has not only led to confusion within the industry but also inconsistent and conflicting regulatory interpretations by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) officials. Sen. Sheehy’s legislation would create needed certainty, protect product innovation and design, and backstop against an overreaching ATF bureaucracy unnecessarily punishing the industry and consumers.”

Other U.S. Senators joining Sen. Cassidy and Sen. Sheehy in introducing the measure included Republican U.S. Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, Mike Lee of Utah, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska,  Ted Budd of North Carolina, Jim Justice of West Virginia and John Cornyn of Texas.