Fairfax, VA – -(Ammoland.com)- The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) applauded Congressmen Jeff Duncan (SC) and John Carter (TX-31) on Monday for introducing the Hearing Protection Act, an important bill that gives gun owners and sportsmen the opportunity to better protect their ears and hearing.
“Many gun owners and sportsmen suffer severe hearing loss after years of shooting, and yet the tool necessary to reduce such loss is onerously regulated and taxed. It doesn’t make any sense,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, NRA-ILA.
“The Duncan-Carter Hearing Protection Act would allow people easier access to suppressors, which would help them to better protect their hearing.”
The Hearing Protection Act, H.R. 367, would remove suppressors from regulation under the National Firearms Act, replacing the federal transfer process with a National Instant Criminal Background Check. The bill would reduce the cost of purchasing a suppressor by removing the $200 transfer tax.
Suppressors are often mischaracterized in Hollywood. They do not “silence” the sound of a firearm. Instead, they act as mufflers and can reduce the noise of a gunshot to hearing safe levels. Not only do suppressors reduce hearing damage for the shooter, they reduce the noise of ranges located near residential areas.
H.R. 367 would make it easier for gun owners and sportsmen to purchase suppressors in the 42 states where they are currently legal. Purchasers would have to pass a background check to buy them, and prohibited people would be denied.
“Gun owners and sportsmen should be able to practice their sport with the tools necessary to do so safely. This bill makes it easier for them to do that,” concluded Cox.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
Senator Crapo (R-ID) introduced a Senate version today.
Better to get it through the Senate and then the House than the other way around. The hardest fight will be the senate. I believe in taking the harder fight first.
And yes, these bills are virtually identical to Salmon’s bill from the past couple of years. Have to wait till they post the actual language to know exactly. Expect the effective date of any reimbursement to change, but nothing else of significance.
Jeff
You may want to check the facts about hearing damage. I’ve been a shooter for more than 70 years. Nobody mentioned hearing damage until recently. Several years ago, my hearing ability declined dramatically. An Otolaryngologist said, “ I don’t know if it will be the next shot or the 2000th shot but, if you don’t protect what little hearing you have left, one of them you won’t hear. After that you can get a little dog to tug on your pant leg to let you know a phone is ringing.” I developed a burning interest about hearing protection. A safe… Read more »
As always, write your senators and representatives to fully support this bill, (in the Senate when it arrives there.)
They should not only strike down state laws that prohibit them (with significant penalties for prosecuting) you should be able to make your own, drive the prices down. And also encourage the development of integral suppressors.
Freddy Lowe,
I live here and you have it wrong. It is “The People’s Republic Of Communist Taxachusetts”!!!
Just for the record! Also NH has very good silencer laws. As a matter of fact you can now hunt
with a suppressor! I spoke to a person who has vowed not to stop until they are legal in all states!
My hearing was destroyed when I was 17 by a Walther PPK/S .380. I’m 65 now. The ringing is constant and the word “what” is a staple of my vocabulary. A sonic would have prevented that. I support this new legislation 100%.
Suppressors are not silencers, all they do is Reduce the sound of the gun blast. It still goes bang it just won’t shatter your eardrum. It’s just that anti gun
Loonies want to make everything about guns illegal
Or restrictive. I hope the Bill passes and becomes law.
So is this different from H.R. 3799? Or I guess my question is will this cancel H.R. 3799?
Please provide a list of the 42 states where it is legal to purchase a suppressor.
We are guessing that New Jersey is at the top of the ‘illegal’ list….;(
Excellent!,is very important for us,thanks!