Mississippi AG: Form 4 Now Voluntary for Suppressors

Mississippi is the first of what I hope will be many states trying to remove legal roadblocks that no longer make sense in the light of the recent big NFA decision.

On October 12, 2026, Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued a statement announcing that filing an ATF Form 4 for a suppressor is now voluntary for Mississippians. Not required. Voluntary.

I have never before today wished I lived in Mississippi instead of Colorado.

Lynn Fitch – Mississippi Attorney General

Why Mississippi Needed an Answer

Quick recap. On October 9, ATF announced it would stop enforcing the National Firearms Act’s approval and registration requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and AOWs nationwide. That followed the August 5 ruling in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF in the Northern District of Texas, which held those NFA provisions couldn’t stand once Congress dropped the tax on those items to $0. We broke down the federal side here.

The federal change didn’t settle anything at the state level on its own. Mississippi Code Section 97-37-31 makes it unlawful to make, sell, or possess a suppressor unless you’re “duly authorized under federal law.” That language was written when federal authorization meant an approved Form 4 and a tax stamp.

According to Fitch’s office, that reference to federal law made Mississippi one of 15 states where registration requirements became ambiguous after the court ruling. ATF didn’t clear it up either. Its FAQ says it can’t tell you whether an unregistered item counts as lawfully held for state purposes, and it sends people to state and local authorities.

What the Attorney General Concluded

Fitch’s reasoning is straightforward. ATF now administers the NFA on a voluntary basis for suppressors. Mississippi’s statute follows federal law. So in her office’s view, the Form 4 is voluntary in Mississippi too.

You can still file one if you want your suppressor in the federal registry. Some folks will, especially if they’re worried about where this goes after the next election. That’s your call to make of course.

Why This Isn’t Fully Settled

To her credit, Fitch is upfront about the weak spot. ATF’s position is guidance from the current administration, and a future one can reverse it. If that happens, Mississippi’s reference to federal law swings right back with it.

That’s why she says she’ll push the legislature during the 2027 session to strip the federal reference out of the statute. She also wrote to Congress last month asking it to fully repeal the NFA provisions she considers unconstitutional.

Be clear on what an attorney general’s statement is. It tells you how the state’s chief legal officer reads the law right now. It isn’t a statute, and it isn’t a court ruling. ATF has also said there’s no automatic grandfathering for unregistered items if federal enforcement ever resumes.

Still can’t make your own… for now

This is the detail I’d want every Mississippi carrier to catch.

Section 97-37-1 of the Mississippi Code still makes carrying “any muffler or silencer for any firearm” concealed punishable by fines, jail time, or both. Fitch says she’ll seek to change that as well, but until the legislature actually does, it’s still the law.

Owning a suppressor and carrying one concealed are two separate questions in Mississippi. The Form 4 news answers the first one. It doesn’t touch the second.

What Hasn’t Changed

• Suppressors are still firearms under federal law. Buying from a dealer still means a Form 4473 and a background check.
• Dealers still can’t sell in violation of state or local law. Some shops will stay conservative while this shakes out.
• Machine guns and destructive devices are untouched. The full NFA still applies to them.
• Other states have their own rules. If you travel with an unregistered suppressor, the law at your destination and every state you pass through matters.

To Sum It Up

If you live in Mississippi, the state’s chief legal officer says you don’t need a Form 4 to own a suppressor legally. That’s a real win, and Fitch deserves credit for addressing it quickly instead of leaving gun owners to guess.

Just remember it rests on federal guidance that can change. Watch the 2027 session, don’t carry your suppressor concealed, and if your situation is at all unusual, talk to a Mississippi firearms attorney.

We’ve updated our state-by-state suppressor ownership guide to reflect the change. For the rest of what you need to know about carry laws where you live and travel, check out the Concealed Carry Law Hub.