ASA Issues Statement of Support for Seneate Reintroduction of Hearing Protection Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Thursday, January 30th, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), joined by 25 cosponsors in the Senate, reintroduced the ASA-supported Hearing Protection Act in the Senate as S. 364.

This introduction builds on the momentum of pro-2nd Amendment and pro-suppressor legislation introduced in the 119th Congress. Recently, Representative Ben Cline (R-Virginia) introduced the House of Representatives version of the Hearing Protection Act. Both bills would remove suppressors from the burdensome requirements of the National Firearms Act (NFA) and require purchasers to pass an instant NICS check, the same background check used during the sale of long guns. This change, by cutting through red tape, will make it much easier for law-abiding hunters and sportsmen to access these critical hearing safety devices. The ASA fully endorses both of these bills and looks forward to seeing their passage through both chambers of Congress.

In addition, last week, Representatives August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) introduced the PARTS Act, which is a bipartisan proposal aimed at reforming the outdated definition of “firearm silencer” under the Gun Control Act.

“We are grateful to Senator Crapo for standing behind the millions of law-abiding gun owners with his introduction of the Hearing Protection Act,”

— Knox Williams, President & Executive Director of ASA

“We are grateful to Senator Crapo for standing behind the millions of law-abiding gun owners with his introduction of the Hearing Protection Act,” said Knox Williams, president and executive director of the American Suppressor Association. “It’s absurd that our unrestrained federal bureaucracy requires Americans to jump through hoops to buy simple hearing protection devices. Momentum continues to grow for common sense reforms that would end the stranglehold of government on the rights of her people. We look forward to working with Senator Crapo and his colleagues to ensure our Second Amendment rights remain a priority.”

The Senate Hearing Protection Act is cosponsored by Senators XYZ.

Background

  • Suppressors have been federally regulated since the passage of the National Firearms Act of 1934
  • In order to purchase a suppressor, prospective buyers must live in a state where suppressors are legal, send
    in an application including fingerprints and passport photos to the ATF, pay a $200 transfer tax, notify their
    local Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO), and wait an indeterminate amount of time for ATF to process the
    application.
  • Using the same science as car mufflers, suppressors help reduce noise pollution, allowing hunters and
    recreational shooters to be good neighbors and good stewards of the environment.
  • Often referred to as “silencers,” suppressors are widely misunderstood by the public due to this misnomer. A
    suppressor only reduces the sound level of a gunshot to 110-120 decibels, about as loud as a jackhammer or
    ambulance siren.
  • Private suppressor ownership is currently legal in 42 states, and hunting with a suppressor is legal in 41 states.

About The American Suppressor Association

The American Suppressor Association (ASA) is the unified voice of the suppressor community. We exist for one reason and one reason only: to fight for pro-suppressor reform nationwide.

The ability of the American Suppressor Association to fight for pro-suppressor reform is tied directly to our ability to fundraise. Since the ASA’s formation in 2011, we have helped 3 states legalize suppressor ownership, 19 states legalize suppressor hunting, and defeated attempts to ban suppressors in 2 states. This would not have happened without your support. Join us in the fight to help protect and expand your right to own and use suppressors by becoming an ASA Member at  www.ASAMember.com.

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