WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Suppressor Association (ASA), issued a statement of support for the introduction of the Hearing Protection Act for the 119th Congress by U.S. Representative Ben Cline.
“The Hearing Protection Act is the epitome of commonsense legislation. Law-abiding citizens should not have to pay a tax to protect their hearing when they exercise their Second Amendment rights,” said Knox Williams, President and Executive Director of ASA. “The American Suppressor Association applauds Rep. Cline for his leadership and willingness to fight for the rights of gunowners across the United States. We look forward to continuing productive conversations with members of Congress and the incoming administration to ensure the best policy outcomes for the suppressor industry and entire gun-owning community.”
The Hearing Protection Act would remove suppressors from the burdensome requirements of the National Firearms Act (NFA) and require purchasers to pass an instant NICS check, the same background check used during the sale of long guns. This change will make it is easier for law-abiding hunters and sportsmen to access these hearing safety devices. Congressman Cline’s bill is an enhanced version of the HPA introduced in every Congress for the last decade. The legislation includes a technical change intended to clarify which part of a suppressor must be marked with a serial number.
Background
Suppressors have been federally regulated since the passage of the National Firearms Act of 1934.
In order to purchase a suppressor, prospective buyers must live in a state where suppressors are legal, send in an application including fingerprints and passport photos to the ATF, pay a $200 transfer tax, notify their local Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO), and wait an indeterminate amount of time for ATF to process the application.
Using the same science as car mufflers, suppressors help reduce noise pollution, allowing hunters and recreational shooters to be good neighbors and good stewards of the environment.
Often referred to as “silencers,” suppressors are widely misunderstood by the public due to this misnomer. A suppressor only reduces the sound level of a gunshot to 110-120 decibels, about as loud as a jackhammer or ambulance siren.
Private suppressor ownership is currently legal in 42 states, and hunting with a suppressor is legal in 41 states.
For more information on the Hearing Protection Act and the American Suppressor Association, visit americansuppressorassociation.com.
