Gun Owners of America Endorses Rep. Boebert’s Bill to Eliminate Tax on Automatic Weapons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Gun Owners of America (GOA) is proud to endorse Representative Lauren Boebert’s bill introduced today on the week of the 40th anniversary of the Hughes Amendment becoming law. The Freedom from Taxes Act of 2026 would reduce the $200 NFA tax on machine guns (and destructive devices) to $0.

For the last 92 years, law-abiding Americans have had their Second Amendment rights infringed through a draconian and unconstitutional $200 “sin” tax on the transfer of each machine gun. Representative Boebert’s bill would finish what Congress started in the One Big Beautiful Bill last year: reducing National Firearms Act excise taxes.

Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, issued the following statement:

“From its inception, GOA opposed the Hughes Amendment when it was signed into law. Forty years later, GOA still opposes any infringements on the right of the people to keep and bear arms. That’s why Gun Owners of America is proud to endorse Representative Boebert’s bill that would reduce the $200 NFA tax on machine guns. Under this GOA-backed legislation, the right to own a machine gun without paying a ‘sin’ tax would be fully restored—just like the Founding Fathers intended.”

Representative Lauren Boebert, of Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, issued the following statement:

“Taxing our constitutional rights is unacceptable and unconstitutional. The Freedom from Taxes Act builds on the progress we made in the One Big Beautiful Bill by completely eliminating the final NFA taxes on machine guns and destructive devices. My bill also eliminates the burdensome Special Occupational Tax that’s been crushing our small businesses and manufacturers. The government should not be imposing penalties on law-abiding citizens exercising their Second Amendment rights.”

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization representing over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.

-GOA-

GOA-backed legislation introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert works to gut the NFA and make machineguns more accessible…

Representative Lauren Boebert has just introduced her GOA-backed bill: the “Freedom From Taxes Act of 2026.”

This bill reduces the $200 tax stamp on Machineguns and Destructive Devices to $0.

This legislation helps to gut the National Firearms Act, and helps our lawsuit against the onerous and illegal registration requirements of the NFA.

We’re calling on our GOA grassroots members to tell their elected Representatives to co-sponsor this bill!

REP. BOEBERT’S BILL: THE “FREEDOM FROM TAXES ACT OF 2026”

Rep. Boebert’s bill works to cut the taxes from the remaining regulated items under the purview of the National Firearms Act.

We at GOA are currently working through the courts after the Senate Parliamentarian refused to remove the registration requirements on Short Barreled Firearms, AOWs and Suppressors during the legislation process on the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

Our aptly named “One Big Beautiful Lawsuit” will remove the registration requirement on these items, as Congress’s original intent with the NFA was a registration of a tax, not the item itself.

The Department of Justice, furious that they could lose a registry of gun owners— has fought back against us, tooth-and-nail.

That’s why it’s so important to remove the taxes on these items. Registries of gun owners are blatantly illegal under federal law.

Whether it’s Suppressors or Machineguns, no registry should exist for these items. They are protected by the Second Amendment.

That’s why we need GOA members to urge their Representatives to cosponsor Rep. Boebert’s bill—because removing the taxes on NFA items is an important first step to eliminating the registry.

Our vocal grassroots members can hold Congress accountable.

GOA members have been crucial to change and have been critical in moving the overton window on NFA items.

Even the most cynical media outlets had to admit that GOA and our members changed the conversation on the National Firearms Act during the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passage.

The Guardian wrote that GOA’s “push to gut the NFA changed from a fringe view into a broadly supported position.” 

So now, we’re going to do the same for the rest of the National Firearms Act.

Let’s make machineguns great again!

If you aren’t already, please consider becoming a GOA member so that we can fight on your behalf! And consider also making it a repeating yearly contribution so that you will always stay covered by our lawsuit injunctions. 

Today is the day. Polls are open right now—and Thomas Massie needs your vote.

For 14 years, Massie has been one of Washington, D.C.’s most reliable, most fearless defenders of your Second Amendment rights. As an A+ rated CHAMPION, he has never once flinched in the face of gun grabbers. Not once. While other Republicans cut deals and caved to pressure, Thomas Massie has stood firm—for you, for your family, and for the Constitution.

Today, the swamp is fighting back. Millions of dollars in outside money have flooded this race with one goal: to retire Thomas Massie and replace him with someone who abandoned us and President Trump the moment he won in 2016. They are counting on gun owners to stay home. They are counting on you to be too busy, too tired, or too distracted to make it to the polls.

Prove them wrong.

This is a primary. Turnout will be low. That means your vote—and every vote you can turn out among your family and friends—carries enormous weight today. We are not exaggerating when we say that a handful of votes could be the difference between keeping one of our greatest allies in Congress or handing the swamp a massive victory. Remember when Brandon Herrera lost his primary in 2024 by less than 400 votes? We cannot afford a repeat of that with Thomas.

So right now, today, we are asking you to do 3 things:

1. Head to this link to find your polling location and go cast your ballot for Thomas Massie before polls close tonight.
2. Pick up the phone and call your family and friends who have not yet voted. Tell them what is at stake. Tell them we need them at the polls today.
3. Forward this email to every gun owner you know in Kentucky. Every. Single. One.

Thomas Massie has spent 14 years fighting for us. Today, it is our turn to fight for him.

For the past 14 years, Representative Thomas Massie has been one of the biggest fighters for the Second Amendment. He is the sponsor of the National Constitutional Carry Act, legislation that would allow you to carry a firearm nationwide without a permit.

Today and tomorrow, we need to encourage everyone we know who lives in his district to get out and vote for him on Tuesday!

Thomas Massie’s record goes far beyond one bill. As an A+ rated CHAMPION of the Second Amendment, he has voted against every unconstitutional gun control proposal that has appeared before Congress—every red flag scheme, every so-called “assault weapons” ban, every attempt to criminalize private gun sales and pass universal background checks. When other Republicans made deals and compromised, Massie held the line. Every. Single. Time.

His opponent? He could never come close to being the fighter that Kentucky, GOA, and America needs.

For over a decade, Thomas has fought for you and for me—defending our God-given liberties. His opponent, on the other hand, left the Republican Party when President Trump won the 2016 election—but now wants you to send him to Washington instead. Don’t let that happen.

The gun grabbers and the swamp know exactly what Thomas Massie means to the Second Amendment. That is precisely why they want him gone. Outside money and establishment forces are pouring millions into this race, hoping that freedom-loving Americans like you, your family, and your friends stay home tomorrow.

Don’t give them that satisfaction.

Head to this link to find your polling location and please make time to go and vote for Thomas Massie in the Republican primary for Congress. Polls will be open tomorrow—and your vote matters! Plus, in a primary, EVERY SINGLE ONE COUNTS.

Even if you do not live in Rep. Massie’s district, please tell your family and friends who live there to get out and vote for Thomas tomorrow.

If Representative Massie loses, it will be a win for the swamp—and a huge blow to the Second Amendment. Whether in Kentucky or across the country, we cannot afford to lose a pro-gun CHAMPION like Massie.

So please, make a plan to vote for Thomas Massie tomorrow and send this 2A champion back to Washington, D.C.—where he belongs, fighting for you and me instead of the special interests and dark money.