LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES
State Ownership:
2015 – Minnesota
On July 1st, ASA backed Senate File 878 took effect, making Minnesota the 40th state to allow civilians to own and possess suppressors. The legislation was carried by Rep. Tony Cornish (R-23B) and Rep. Mark Anderson (R-09A).
2015 – Vermont
On July 2nd, ASA backed H. 5 took effect, making Vermont the 41st state to legalize the private possession of suppressors. The legislation, which was carried by Rep. Patrick Brennan (R-Chittenden) and Sen. John Rogers (D-Essex/Orleans), was signed into law by Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin on June 17th.
2016 – Iowa
On March 31st, Governor Terry Branstad (R) signed House File 2279 into law, officially making Iowa the 42nd state to legalize the private possession of suppressors. The legislation was carried by Rep. Matt Windschitl (R-17) and Rep. Terry Baxter (R-08), and actively supported by the Iowa Firearms Coalition (IFC).
State Hunting:
2011 – Kansas
On July 1st, Kansas became the 23rd state to allow hunters to use suppressors when Senate Bill 152 took effect. Although it predates the formation of ASA by two months, future ASA staff consulted with NRA lobbyists on the legislation. This legislation was one of the driving forces behind the development of ASA.
2012 – Texas
2012 – Arizona
On August 1st, ASA backed House Bill 2728 took effect, making Arizona the 25th state to allow hunters to use suppressors. The legislation, which was carried by Sen. Steve Russell (R-45), was signed by Governor Jan Brewer on May 25th, 2012.
2012 – Oklahoma
On November 1st, Oklahoma became the 26th state to allow hunters to use suppressors when ASA backed Senate Bill 1743 took effect. The legislation, which was carried by Rep. David Gowan (R-14), was signed into law on March 29th, 2012.
2013 – Indiana
On July 1st, ASA backed House Bill 1563 took effect, making Indiana the 27th state to legalize suppressor hunting. The legislation was signed into law on May 11th by then Governor Mike Pence (R), who is now Vice President of the United States.
2013 – Wyoming
On July 1st, ASA backed Senate File 132 took effect, making Wyoming the 28th state to legalize suppressor hunting. The legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Matt Mead (R) on February 18th , was carried by Sen. Ogden Driskill (R-1).
2013 – North Carolina
On October 1st , ASA backed House Bill 937 took effect, making North Carolina the 29th state to legalize suppressor hunting. The suppressor portion of the omnibus bill, which was signed into law by Governor Pat McCrory (R) on July 29th, was carried by Sen. Shirley Randleman (R-30).
2014 – Georgia
On July 1st, ASA backed House Bill 60 took effect, making Georgia the 30th state to fully legalize suppressor hunting. HB 60 was the culmination of 3 years of work by ASA. The bill was signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal (R) on April 23 . The primary backer of the suppressor hunting provision was Sen. Bill Heath (R-31). This legislation was actively supported by ASA sponsor Daniel Defense.
2014 – Louisiana
On August 1st , Louisiana became the 31st state to allow suppressor hunting when an ASA backed House Bill 186 and Senate Bill 212 took effect. The duplicative bills, which were introduced by Rep. Cameron Henry (R-82) and Sen. Rick Ward III (R-17), were signed by Governor Bobby Jindal (R) at the end of May. This legislation was actively supported by the Louisiana Shooting Association (LSA) and ASA sponsor Lipsey’s.
2014 – Florida
On November 21st, Florida became the 33rd state to allow suppressor hunting for all legal animals when the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously to repeal the 57 year old prohibition.
2015 – Ohio
On March 23rd, ASA backed House Bill 234 took effect, making Ohio the 34th state to legalize suppressor hunting for all animals. The bill was signed into law by Governor John Kasich (R) on December 19th, 2014. It was sponsored by Rep. Cheryl Grossman (R-23) and Rep. John Becker (R-65), and actively supported by the Ohio Speech and Hearing Governmental Affairs Coalition (OSHGAC) and the Buckeye Firearms Association.
2015 – Montana
On April 24th, Democratic Governor Steve Bullock signed House Bill 250 into law, making Montana the 35th state to fully legalize suppressor hunting. In 2013, Gov. Bullock vetoed similar legislation due to a misunderstanding of the realities of suppressors. After debunking the common myths and misconceptions, he wrote a letter asking the Speaker of the House to amend HB 250 so that it would legalize the use of suppressors on all game animals.
2015 – Minnesota
On July 1st, ASA backed Senate File 878 took effect, making Minnesota the 36th state to allow hunters to use suppressors. The legislation, which was carried by Rep. Tony Cornish (R-23B) and Rep. Mark Anderson (R-09A), is part of the same bill that legalized suppressor ownership in the state.
2015 – Maine
On October 15th, ASA backed Legislative Document 942 took effect, making Maine the 37th state to allow hunters to use suppressors. The legislation, which was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason (R-22) and Rep. Stephen Wood (R-57), was actively supported by the Maine Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, and Gun Owners of Maine.
2016 – Michigan
On February 11th, Michigan became the 38th state to allow hunters to use suppressors when the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) voted 4 – 1 to approve an ASA backed amended version of Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment No. 1 of 2016. Prior to the final vote, Commissioner Louise Klarr successfully removed two provisions which would have limited the decibel reduction of suppressors allowed in the field to 30 dB, and prohibited the use of subsonic ammunition. The measure was actively supported by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC).
2016 – New Hampshire
On June 10th , Democratic Governor Maggie Hassan signed House Bill 500 into law, officially making New Hampshire the 40th state to legalize hunting with suppressors. The legislation was introduced by Rep. John Burt (R-39) and championed by Rep. Jeff Goley (D-8), along with the New Hampshire Sportsmen’s Caucus. The legislation was actively supported by ASA sponsor Sig Sauer.
2016 – Iowa
On March 31st, Governor Terry Branstad (R) signed House File 2279 into law, officially making Iowa the 39th state to legalize hunting with suppressors. The legislation, which was carried by Rep. Matt Windschitl (R-17) and Rep. Terry Baxter (R-08), and actively supported by the Iowa Firearms Coalition (IFC), is part of the same bill that legalized suppressor ownership in the state.
2021 – Maine
On June 8th, Governor Janet Mills (D-ME) signed Senator Trey Stewart’s (R – Aroostook) L.D. 635 into law, thus repealing the requirement to obtain a permit from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) before hunting with a firearm suppressor in The Pine Tree State.
2022 – Vermont
On June 1st, Governor Phil Scott (R-VT) signed S. 281 into law, making Vermont the 41st state to allow the use of suppressors while hunting. The ASA-backed pro-suppressor provision of the bill, was carried by Representatives Pat Brennan (R-Chittenden-9-2) and George Till (D-Chittenden-3). The new law, which carries a two-year sunset provision, will take effect on July 1, 2022.
2024 – Vermont
On June 6, 2024, Governor Phil Scott (R-VT) signed H. 878 into law, removing the two-year sunset provision from S. 281 that temporarily legalized the use of suppressors while hunting in Vermont. With the new law’s enactment, hunters in The Green Mountain State no longer have to worry about losing their right to protect their hearing in the field.