U.S. Representative Ben Cline (R-VA-06) and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) recently reintroduced the Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 404/S. 364) in the 119th Congress. This commonsense legislation will give gun owners and hunters the opportunity to better protect their hearing when exercising their Second Amendment rights at the range or afield.
The Hearing Protection Act would remove suppressors from regulation under the National Firearms Act (NFA), replacing the onerous federal transfer process with a simple background check, similar to purchasing a firearm. The bill would also reduce the cost of purchasing a suppressor by removing the required $200 tax.
“Americans who enjoy hunting and target shooting should be able to do so safely and legally without facing burdensome government regulations,” said Rep. Cline. “The Hearing Protection Act will reclassify suppressors, making it easier for law-abiding gun owners to protect their hearing while enjoying recreational activities. It’s time to ensure that our Second Amendment rights are upheld, allowing responsible citizens to enjoy their freedoms without unnecessary obstacles.”
“Federal red tape continues to follow the false Hollywood narrative that suppressors are silent, and ignores the reality that they serve a genuine purpose in protecting the hearing of law-abiding American citizens exercising their Second Amendment rights,” said Senator Crapo. “It is past time Congress removes the burdensome barriers to accessing this equipment for the safety of Idaho’s hunters and sportsmen.”
The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) is proud to support these important bills. “Gun owners around the world are using suppressors to reduce the impact of noise and hearing loss while using their firearms. Even in countries with the strictest firearms laws, suppressors are often unregulated products that anyone can buy over the counter. However, outdated federal law makes it difficult for Americans to access these useful safety devices,” said John Commerford, Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. “On behalf of millions of NRA members and gun owners across the country, we thank Rep. Ben Cline and Sen. Mike Crapo for introducing this important legislation to roll back the bureaucratic red tape on suppressor ownership in the United States.”
Additional suppressor legislation was recently introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Congressman Michael Cloud (R-TX-27). S. 345/H.R. 850, the Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing (SHUSH) Act eliminates the bureaucratic red tape of the NFA process and streamlines the path to purchasing a suppressor like any other firearm accessory. NRA-ILA supports these measures as well.
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