Last updated October 2026 · By Nick Hall, who has covered the NFA registration case and ATF’s guidance since the August ruling
Quick take: Alaska’s acting attorney general, Cori Mills, says the state’s own law on suppressors, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns no longer works after the federal NFA registration ruling. She is asking the next Legislature to fix it, and told police to check with prosecutors before charging anyone in the meantime.
- The problem: Alaska bans certain prohibited weapons but gives a defense to people who complied with federal registration, which ATF no longer enforces.
- The ask: Acting AG Cori Mills wants the next Legislature to clear up how state law should work now.
- Until then: Police are asked to consult state prosecutors before filing charges under the statute.
- The irony: Alaska was one of 15 states that sued and won the case that created the gap.
Winning a lawsuit against the federal government is supposed to make life simpler. In Alaska it has made owning a suppressor or a short-barreled rifle more confusing, and the state’s top lawyer has said so out loud.
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Table of Contents
What Alaska’s Attorney General Said
The Alaska Department of Law put out a release on October 15 asking the next Legislature “to address inconsistences between state and federal firearms laws” after the court decision on suppressors, SBRs and SBSs.
Acting Attorney General Cori Mills was clear that she likes the ruling. “The court made the right decision, and we appreciate the court recognizing federal overreach into our Second Amendment rights,” she said. But she added that the case and ATF’s guidance leave many Alaskans unsure of the legal way to own these items.
“The proper place for this to be resolved is in the State Legislature,” Mills said.
How the Federal Case Created the Gap
Congress removed the $200 making and transfer tax on suppressors, SBRs and SBSs through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective January 1, 2026, but left the registration and approval rules in place. Alaska joined 14 other states, six businesses and associations, a nonprofit and one gun owner to challenge what was left.
On August 5, a federal district court in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF ruled those registration requirements could not be enforced against the plaintiffs. The Justice Department chose not to appeal, which we covered in our report on DOJ’s decision not to appeal.
ATF then said it would stop enforcing the approval and registration requirements nationwide, while still accepting voluntary registrations. Our report on the ATF guidance walks through what that means for buyers.
Why Alaska’s Own Law Is Now a Problem
Here is the knot. According to the Department of Law, “possession of certain prohibited weapons remains a criminal offense” under Alaska law. The same statute “provides an affirmative defense for individuals who have complied with applicable federal registration requirements.”
That worked when federal registration was mandatory. Now that ATF has stopped enforcing it, a person who buys a suppressor without registering it may be fine under federal practice but have no clear defense under state law.
Voluntary registration is still possible, and the department says so, but it does not think that fixes the underlying conflict. It says voluntary registration “does not resolve the broader inconsistency between the state prohibition and the changed federal regulatory framework.”
What Happens to Alaskans in the Meantime
Until lawmakers act, the department has asked law enforcement “to consult with state prosecutors before filing charges under the affected statute.” It also says it will “carefully evaluate any potential prosecutions” with the federal ruling, ATF’s guidance and constitutional questions in mind.
That is not a promise not to prosecute. It is a slower, more careful process. If you are in Alaska and want a suppressor or SBR now, voluntary federal registration is the most conservative route, though the department itself says it does not settle the conflict. Talking to an Alaska firearms lawyer before you buy is the safer move while the law is unsettled.
Our Alaska gun laws guide covers the rest of the state’s rules.
Other States Face the Same Question
Alaska is not unusual here. ATF itself acknowledged that several states have laws that reference federal registration, which is part of why it kept accepting voluntary registrations.
Any state that bans suppressors or short-barreled guns except when they are federally registered now has the same mismatch. Our suppressor laws by state guide shows where suppressors are legal, and it is worth checking how your own state ties its rules to the NFA before you buy.
Alaska helped win the case. Now it has to rewrite its own law to catch up with the win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are suppressors legal in Alaska?
Alaska law treats certain weapons, including suppressors and short-barreled guns, as prohibited unless a defense applies, and the statute gives a defense to people who have complied with federal registration requirements. The acting attorney general has asked the Legislature to clarify how that works now that ATF no longer enforces registration.
Why does Alaska's suppressor law need a fix?
Because the state defense is tied to federal registration. After the Silencer Shop Foundation ruling, ATF said it would stop enforcing NFA approval and registration requirements nationwide, which leaves the state defense unclear for people who do not register.
Can you still register a suppressor with ATF?
Yes. According to the Alaska Department of Law, ATF said it would continue accepting voluntary registrations, recognizing that several states have laws that reference federal registration.
Will Alaska prosecute unregistered suppressor owners?
The Department of Law has asked police to consult state prosecutors before filing charges under the statute and says it will carefully evaluate any potential prosecutions. It has not said it will stop prosecuting.
Was Alaska part of the NFA lawsuit?
Yes. Alaska joined 14 other states, six businesses and associations, a nonprofit and one gun owner in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, which a federal court decided for the plaintiffs on August 5, 2026.
Is the $200 tax stamp still required for suppressors?
No. Congress eliminated the $200 making and transfer taxes for suppressors, SBRs and SBSs through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective January 1, 2026.
Related Reading
- ATF NFA Guidance
- DOJ Will Not Appeal the NFA Ruling
- Suppressor Laws by State (2026)
- How to Buy a Suppressor
- Alaska Gun Laws Explained
- Missouri Sues ATF Over the NFA Registry
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