Today, the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed House Bill 1563, legislation that would repeal Indiana’s current prohibition on the use of a suppressor while hunting. In addition to this pro-hunting provision, an amendment was introduced in committee by state Senator Jim Tomes (R-49) that would strengthen Indiana’s shooting range protection law. HB 1563, sponsored by state Representative Sean Eberhart (R-57) and state Senators Carlin Yoder (R-12) and Richard Young (D-47), now goes to the Senate floor for consideration.
Currently, more than half of the states allow hunters to use suppressors while hunting. There are numerous benefits to hunting with suppressed firearms, including:
- Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate noise complaints that are frequently an excuse to close hunting lands throughout the country. This will protect hunting areas well into the future.
- Using a suppressor while hunting will reduce recoil and muzzle rise to help increase the accuracy of hunters. More accurate shooting in the field means fewer wounded and lost animals--a good thing for hunters and wildlife.
- While suppressors do not eliminate the sound of a firearm, they do reduce the muzzle report in a manner similar to the way that a muffler reduces exhaust noise from a vehicle. Suppressors simply help to protect against hearing loss.
Recently, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming adopted new rules allowing for the use of suppressors when hunting game. It’s time that hunters in Indiana are able to enjoy the same opportunities available to sportsmen in more than half of the country. For more information on hunting with suppressors, click here.
Please contact your state Senator and respectfully urge him or her to support House Bill 1563.
Contact information for your state legislator can be found here.
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