WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, proudly welcomes U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo’s (R-Idaho) reintroduction of the Hearing Protection Act. The legislation, S. 401, is co-sponsored by 24 additional senators, all who endorse the legislation that would provide greater access to firearm safety devices by regulating them in the same manner as a firearm.
“This no-nonsense legislation by Senator Crapo would remove unnecessary and onerous regulations for an accessory that is nothing more than a muffler for a gun,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Suppressors are safety tools that reduce the sound of gunfire to a level that won’t cause instant and permanent hearing loss, enables more accurate marksmanship and allows shooting ranges to be better neighbors. The Hearing Protection Act would reduce unnecessary barriers for this accessory that is currently regulated the same way as automatic firearms. Suppressors were originally listed under the National Firearms Act over poaching concerns during the Great Depression, but those fears proved to be unfounded. Suppressors don’t completely silence a firearm, only reduce the report from a level equal to a jet taking off to one similar to that of a jackhammer. NSSF is grateful to Senator Crapo for his leadership to remove unneeded barriers to owning a safety device that is designed to make recreational shooting safer.”
The Hearing Protection Act, which was introduced by Sen. Crapo in previous Congresses, would reclassify suppressors to regulate them like traditional firearms by removing them from the 1934 National Firearms Act. That would cease the overly burdensome federal transfer process with an instantaneous National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) verification, making the purchase and transfer process for suppressors equal to the process for a rifle or shotgun. The legislation would also tax suppressors under the Pittman-Robertson Act instead of the National Firearms Act, putting more funding into state wildlife conservation agencies.
The Hearing Protection Act would not change any laws in states that already prevent suppressor use or ownership, nor does it eliminate background check requirements. Suppressors are legal to own in 42 states and 41 states allow them for hunting. Similar legislation, H.R. 152, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.).
About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org
Suppressors should be sold at not only gun stores but hardware stores, for no more than $100, like in Europe. One of the few things they do right…
So another “no chance in hell” bill. It’s an attempt to invite gun owners to support his re-election. The time has passed to remove suppressors from the NFA. Republicans had the majorities in the House, Senate and White House but failed to even bring it to the floor. Guess who was the Majority leader and Speaker at the time?
Let me guess, it couldn’t be good old Mitch McConnell who killed nation reciprocity that very same session? He claims to the gun owners best friend despite passing every gun control act he can including the one last year pushing red flag laws. The other useless idiot would be Paul Ryan, speaker of the house at the time. Thank goodness he’s no longer in Congress.
Kentucky must have been thinking…look what the state legislature did in 2021.
Hmmmm.
Carpo was just relected last November 2022 by a land slide by the way, so it’s not about getting re-elected. He is very pro-gun or Idaho would have kicked his but out of office. I believe he’s also one of individuals who drafted a bill the to keep credit card companies from coding firearm purchases at retailers.
I am assuming that this would not remove the exorbitant $200 tax on suppressors since the article mentioned transferring taxation from one organization to another. If so, than that is unacceptable. Suppressors are expensive enough on their own. Imposing what is tantamount to extortion on their purchase creates an unnecessary financial burden.
It would eliminate the $200 NFA tax and by keeping it in the same catagory as firearms, ammunition, and archery and fishing equipment would be subject to the same minimal Pittman-Robertson tax. That tax is used for numerous beneficial purposes from wildlife preservation (to make for better hunting) to shooting ranges.
The SHUSH Act was a much better bill.
Once suppressors are removed from the NFA, what characteristic would retain them under government control. They aren’t a firearm, one can’t smoke them, can’t drink it, can’t blow thingys up with them, don’t expel a projectile (firearm’s function, previously expelled bullet only passes through them), aren’t a frame/receiver. They are only a muffler. It’s not “BATFE and Mufflers”….beyond their scope.
I would LOVE to see “mufflers for guns” removed from being TAXED as a weapon. However, I am sure the ILLEGALLY INSTITUTED BUREAUCRACY of the “atf/aft/nfa” will FIGHT ANY ACTION THAT REMOVES THEIR $200.00 per Accouterment income. Past time to EXTRADITE this ILLEGALLY INSTITUTED BUREAUCRACY’S TENTACLES along with EVERY “RULE OR REGULATION”! I do not want ONE of these “rules or regulations” to be transferred to ANY law enforcement agency!
How hard would it have been to include a link embedded into this article that would generate a form email supporting these bills? I get those from advocates for other issues during state legislative sessions for years. Click on the link, volunteer your info, the advocacy group then directs your endorsement to the appropriate representatives. Content producers could help greatly, those emails are powerful, especially when the staffer runs your name to the district voter rolls and sees your name as a consistent voter, by just adding another step. Until that happens, we should contact our congress and senate critters… Read more »
Yeah…..who is going to sign the bill again? Where is the majority that is going to over ride the veto?
This is TOTAL grandstanding BS w/out substance. Just like Geatz abolish the atf bill and national reciprocity………saying they are doing something with NO INTENT TO PERFORM!
stop pissing down my back and telling me it’s raining!
Why aren’t they adding these as amendments and bill killers to democrap legislation instead of this stand alone grandstanding that has zero chance?
This is fund raising…….not legislating.
talk about common sense legislation. this would remove suppressors from the nfa allowing more people to obtain them and help fund the conservation effort in America, which is something the lefties care about. will they vote for this or not?
Not. It won’t get passed the filibuster rule in the Senate. Plus the the house does not a corresponding bill at this time to be introduced into session.
Super! A step in tge right direction! Since to use one you need to have a gun, which takes a check to own. What have any check? Just go to the store & buy one!!