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PIERRE, SD — South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden is calling on federal authorities to revise a longstanding regulation that imposes a mandatory seven-day waiting period before shipping firearms and related accessories across state lines, including suppressors. In a letter sent on March 24, 2025, to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Acting ATF Director Kash Patel, Gov. Rhoden asked for action in light of President Donald J. Trump’s recent Executive Order aimed at safeguarding Second Amendment rights.
The rule in question, 27 CFR § 478.96, requires that licensed dealers notify local law enforcement and observe a seven-day waiting period before shipping firearms or accessories such as suppressors to out-of-state buyers. Rhoden argued that this regulation is outdated and unnecessarily burdensome, especially for South Dakota-based Silencer Central, the nation’s largest suppressor manufacturer and distributor.
“This rule hampers their ability to do business,” the governor wrote, noting that while wait times for ATF Form 4 approvals have improved, the seven-day requirement continues to slow lawful sales. Rhoden pointed out that the original law predates the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, which now mandates federal background checks for all firearm purchases—including suppressors.
According to the governor, because modern buyers must pass these background checks, the added waiting period serves no safety function and only delays lawful transactions.
“A slight modification to 27 CFR § 478.96 would represent a significant victory for the Second Amendment community across the nation without impacting any safety regulations,” Rhoden wrote.
Rhoden’s appeal aligns with President Trump’s February 7, 2025 Executive Order titled Protecting Second Amendment Rights, which directs federal agencies to review all current policies for potential infringements on constitutional gun rights.
This push for regulatory reform is part of a broader effort to reduce bureaucratic delays and modernize federal firearms laws in alignment with current technology and enforcement practices.
Suppressors, which are regulated under the National Firearms Act, remain legal to own in most states and are commonly used to reduce noise and recoil. Lawful suppressor purchasers already undergo rigorous background checks and registration processes.
Efforts like Gov. Rhoden’s underline a continued commitment from pro-Second Amendment leaders to ensure that lawful gun owners and businesses are not burdened by outdated or redundant federal rules.
