Doctor Timothy W. Wheeler and six fellow ear surgeons recently submitted a proposal to their national specialist society, the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).
The seven ear doctors wanted their academy to support their new policy endorsing firearm suppressors for hearing protection.
The docs had tried it before but failed. Some of their members called them “gun nuts.” However, the seven coauthors are a powerful group—ear, nose and throat surgeons with more than a century of combined practice experience.
“Four of us are even further specialized in ear problems and are fellowship-trained neurotologists, who operate only on the ear and base of skull,” Wheeler pointed out in an email. “We are all shooters and avid Second Amendment supporters.”
The seven-member group believes that their proposal could be powerful new evidence in the fight to deregulate sound suppressors.
Last week, the group was notified that their Academy, the AAO-HNS, formally adopted their position statement endorsing firearm suppressors as a public health tool for hearing preservation.
“They accepted it. It’s official policy,” Wheeler said last week. “The Academy will enforce it!”
Wheeler said he has contacted the NRA, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and other pro-gun groups, telling them about the news.
The group’s position is short and simple:
“Sound suppressors are mechanical devices attached to the barrel of a firearm designed to reduce harmful impulse noise of firearms at its source. CDC research has shown that the only potentially effective noise control method to reduce [shooters’] noise exposure from gunfire is through the use of noise suppressors that can be attached to the end of the gun barrel. Suppressors reduce muzzle blast noise by up to 30 decibels. Their benefit is additive when used with ear-level hearing protection devices such as circumaural muffs or ear plugs. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery endorses the use of firearm suppressors as an effective method of reducing the risk of hearing loss, especially when used in conjunction with conventional hearing protective measures.”
The seven coauthors include: Mark G. Bell, MD, Matthew P. Branch, MD, Roberto A. Cueva, MD, FACS, Gerard J. Gianoli, MD, FACS, Bradford Ress, MD, FANS, Hayes H. Wanamaker, MD and Wheeler. All seven are board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology.
“It was a fantastic decision,” Wheeler said. “We intend to be available to assist NRA and other interested parties in the effort to make firearm suppressors just another widely available, consumer-friendly firearm accessory.”
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About Lee Williams
Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” is the chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming an editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter.
Right on, I can’t believe that medical doctors are actually pushing something that is obvious to them and even people like me but not to the leftists that want to protect the children.
Thanks for someone having the balls to stand up.
This is great news, pro gun doctors! I thought they’d gone the way of the dodo bird. Deregulating suppressors, (ideally the whole NFA), but suppressors is probably the easiest part to deregulate politically at the moment, should be the next big goal of all the 2A groups. If GOA, SAF, NRA, etc all ganged up on congress together, then it’d be tough for the upcoming “pro gun” trifecta in DC to not go vote in favor of it. I’d have bought one years ago, if I didn’t have to pay a $200 ransom to the AFT and submit everything short… Read more »
This sounds like a popularly supported common sense solution to me.
I knew there had to be one doctor who shoots …….
But more than one? I’m blown away.
The only argument that I can come up with against this common sense approach is that it’s going to make it more difficult to conceal carry my P226. Maybe that’s what the anti-gun crowd really wants.
I, for one, do not understand suppressora ended up on the NFA to begin with. The NFA deals with guns and dangerous devices (explosives, etc). They aren’t a weapon in and of themselves. Nor are they dangerous or harmful. Therefore, they should not be on the NFA. The only two items that were originally supposed to be on the NFA were machine guns and short barrel shotguns. That’s it. Short barrel rifles and suppressors were never supposed to be included on the NFA to begin with.
The last NFA item I registered was my second SBR Colt 607 clone, on a Form 1. I had recently retired and was in the process of moving from Houston to Granbury and the hassle combined with the knowledge of Monkeybama’s upcoming rule changes regarding trusts caused me to swear off of anything else I had to register. I really want a .45 acp suppressor for short .45 acp AR’s, but I’m trying hard to stick to my guns. I want to walk into my LGS and buy one and wslk out with it same day.
I am with NICK 100% My exact Feelings