U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- On Monday, February 6th, ASA Executive Director Knox Williams testified in the New Mexico Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee in opposition to Senate Bill 171. Sponsored by Senator Williams Soules (D-37), the initial legislation sought to ban the “manufacture, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer or acquisition” of suppressors, “assault pistols”, machine guns, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and virtually every type of hunting and self-defense ammunition.
Williams provided over five minutes of educational testimony, explaining that a ban on suppressors would do nothing to deter crime. Instead, a ban would deprive law-abiding New Mexicans of one of the most effective hearing protection tools on the market. Immediately following Knox’s testimony, Sen. Soules offered an amendment to delete the provision banning suppressors. The amendment was adopted by bipartisan a 6 – 1 margin, thus removing the suppressor ban from SB 171. The amended legislation was then passed on a 5 – 3 party line vote.
“We are ecstatic that we were able to protect suppressors from being banned, and applaud Senator Soules for removing that provision. Nonetheless, even as amended SB 171 is a draconian and unconstitutional bill that needs to be stopped.” – Knox Williams, Executive Director, American Suppressor Association
“In a dozen years of lobbying for suppressors, I’ve never seen anything like this happen,” said Knox Williams. “The facts and the science are on our side, and Owen Miller, ASA’s Vice-President and I came prepared with our knowledge to fight tooth and nail for suppressors. In a rare occurrence in politics, logic and common sense prevailed. We are ecstatic that we were able to protect suppressors from being banned, and applaud Senator Soules for removing that provision. Nonetheless, even as amended SB 171 is a draconian and unconstitutional bill that needs to be stopped.”
Knox and ASA Vice President Owen Miller worked alongside NRA-ILA at the statehouse in Santa Fe, meeting with committee members and other legislators to explain the many pitfalls of this legislation. Following its passage, the bill is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The American Suppressor Association will continue to keep tabs on legislation in New Mexico, and is prepared to come back to Santa Fe to fight any attempt to ban, confiscate, or further regulate suppressors. Protecting your right to own and use suppressors is our top priority.
About the American Suppressor Association
The American Suppressor Association (ASA) is the unified voice of the suppressor community. We exist for one reason and one reason only: to fight for pro-suppressor reform nationwide.
The ability of the American Suppressor Association to fight for pro-suppressor reform is tied directly to our ability to fundraise. Since the ASA’s formation in 2011, we have helped 3 states have legalize suppressor ownership, 19 states legalize suppressor hunting, and defeated attempts to ban suppressors in 2 states. This would not have happened without your support. Join us in the fight to help protect and expand your right to own and use suppressors by becoming an ASA Member at www.ASAMember.com.
“the initial legislation sought to ban the “manufacture, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer or acquisition” of suppressors, “assault pistols”, machine guns, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and virtually every type of hunting and self-defense ammunition.”
So you can have a suppressor but you LOST on the rest of the bill. You have nothing to mount the suppressor on (“assault pistols”, machine guns, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns) and nothing to shoot through it. (virtually every type of hunting and self-defense ammunition.”)
This is a ‘win’?
I was thinking the same thing. I can just see them now, their silencers are kind of like the ring in Harry Potter. My Beauty. LOL
is it just me or does it seem like the government goes above and beyond to make it illegal for U.S. citizens to have any type of fun, especially gun owners.
Yeap, they live to suck the life out of everything. Just look at your local forest, city, roads. We used to have quite a few race tracks around where I live. Dirt bike & car racing is all but a thing of the past. And now hunting & fishing under attack. It’s either the regulations they pass. Or they manage to price it out of the common mans earnings. Home of the FREE, if you’re not a citizen of the USA.
Oh yeehaw…..the rest of the shit show is allowed to proceed….
Let’s cut to the bottom line here, OK? It is that the legal system is 100% corrupted, it is a criminal organization, a crime syndicate in other words, ergo it has ZERO legitimate power or authority over ANY man or woman!! WHY do we have to obey the caprices and whims of those criminals who operate the legal system for profits? If you want to talk about facts and logic being used to defeat an insane proposal, then let’s analyze what the legal system has done to us all and expose those crimes!! WHERE can we find it in writing,… Read more »
That’s great to see that the Roundhouse can be persuaded by good info! As to the rest in the bill – it won’t pass. It’s obviously written to make Bill Soules look good with the city folks in the Burque and Cruces. Hunting to manage rangeland and the tourist business NM gets from outfitters will dampen support. Only ABQ, Santa Fe, and Cruces support city fear-mongering. Everyone else lives in NM specifically to be able to enjoy outdoor activities and sports. We can also assume that out of all the things the Native American nations situated within NM want from… Read more »
Yeah, they only ate one bite of your freedom, rights, liberties this time. Welcome to Compromiseville. One way in, no way out. Fantastic job????????? Major DUH!!!!!
Can we please get that presentation on suppressors presented to Congress?
Thanks you!
I’m trying to strategize my escape/retirement from Washington State. Is there any state not under assault from the disease of spreading liberalism?
Unfortunately, the answer is “No.” There are only states that are more aggressive in protecting their “redness,” such as South Dakota, Wyoming, most of Idaho and a few others. I live in Nevada which used to be a red state, but Californians trying to escape high taxation are arriving here in high numbers and bringing their politics with them.
My comment got deleted!
Oops, there it is now! I couldn’t see it for some reason.