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Committee passes substitute to preserve Georgians’ suppressor possession after federal changes
Summary
A committee substitute to SB 499 was approved to align Georgia law with federal changes affecting suppressors (National Firearms Act): the substitute relocates and clarifies definitions and ensures Georgians can retain suppressors should federal regulation change; substitute passed (transcript tally recorded 7–2).
A Senate committee on Tuesday approved a substitute to SB 499 intended to preserve Georgians’ ability to possess firearm suppressors if federal law changes.
Sponsors said the substitute relocates definitions and ensures that changes in federal law would not automatically criminalize possessions previously lawful under the National Firearms Act (NFA). A witness noted about 270,000 suppressors are currently in circulation in the state and said the substitute preserves Georgians’ ability to possess them if federal rules change.
Leader Hatchett and other senators explained the language was moved to keep code definitions in one subsection and to preserve existing legal references to the NFA. The committee’s discussion focused on maintaining consistency with federal regs and avoiding unintended prohibition of items already in circulation.
The committee approved the substitute; the transcript records the motion as carrying with a tally reported as 7–2.
Quotation: “So for me, we just said if it's illegal federally, it's illegal in Georgia,” a sponsor said, and presenters clarified the substitute seeks to keep the state aligned with federal law while protecting current lawful possession.
Next steps: The substitute advances for further Senate consideration.
