By Chris Woodward

Written by Chris Woodward

Editors ‘ Note: At the risk of seeming picky, we don’t like to use the terms “silencers” and “suppressors” interchangeably.” The reason is that the term “silencer” suggests that a firearm emits hardly any noise at all. This conjures up Hollywood movie scenes of assassinations and murders where the gun in question makes a barely audible “thipping” noise allowing the crime to be committed without anyone being made aware. Why would anyone need a quiet gun, except for nefarious reasons, like those shown in the movies? That’s the problem of confusing reality with Hollywood’s creative license. Suppressors only reduce the sharp noise from a firearm that can damage hearing and is otherwise quite audible on the range. They suppress but do not silence the sharp report of a discharged firearm. In addition, except for some subsonic ammunition, the bullet’s flight makes a sharp cracking noise as it breaks the sound barrier. The suppressor can do nothing about that at all, as the bullet is out of the barrel and in flight. So, we don’t want to leave the impression with the uninformed that anyone is suggesting the public routinely acquire the means to make guns silent. All that is being asked is to suppress the loud report so that it does not damage hearing or unduly disturb others who may not wish to hear the noise. While it is true that the firearm operator can wear protective ear muffs, that does not stop the noise from going elsewhere. A suppressor does. In addition, to own a suppressor, the buyer must go through a specific procedure with the ATF, including background checks and fingerprinting, and pay a $200 fee per suppressor. A buyer may often wait up to six months to complete all the legal requirements. 

U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Arizona, is urging Democrats and other lawmakers to join him in supporting bills that involve gun suppressors.

One such bill is the Protecting Americans’ Right to Silence Act. Hamadeh said the legislation makes commonsense changes to the definition of “silencer” and ensures that parts like end caps, adaptors and wipes are not misclassified as silencers.

“It is pretty basic but essential,” Hamadeh told The Center Square. “It is unfortunate that in a country where our basic rights should not be infringed, over the years bureaucrats have done just that.”

U.S. Reps. August Pfluger, R-Texas, and Jared Golden, R-Maine, introduced the PARTS Act. The representatives argue that it is necessary to clarify what they call the ATF’s “poorly written suppressor rule.”

“We can’t have people who want to safely exercise their Second Amendment rights to unknowingly violate some arcane bureaucratic rule or end up on the wrong side of the government because of some unreasonable regulation,” Hamadeh said.

Another bill supported by Hamadeh is the Hearing Protection Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Virginia. Hamadeh said this too is simple.

“Right now, it is harder to buy a suppressor than it is to buy a gun,” said Hamadeh. “That makes no sense. All this does is reclassify suppressors so that they are regulated like a gun.”

Meanwhile, the Silencers Help Us Save Hearing Act supported by Hamadeh “eliminates excessive regulations around firearm suppressors,” something he said will reduce bureaucratic red tape and ensure every American deals with the same rules about suppressors regardless of where they live.

This bill is from U.S. Reps. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Hamadeh said he’s heard from Arizona’s hunters, recreational shooters and law enforcement officers, all of them “concerned about their health” as well as the “unclear rules and misguided policies surrounding suppressors” that put them at risk.

“These are bills aimed at the health of those people who are legally exercising their Second Amendments rights, nothing more,” said Hamadeh. “No matter what political party you belong to, the health of Americans should be a top priority.”

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This article was published by The Center Square and is reproduced with permission.

Image Credit: YouTube screenshot

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