Gun Control Debate: ‘Hearing Protection Act’ Lifts $200 Tax Requirement on Silencers
A bill introduced this week would remove the $200 tax stamp placed on gun suppressors or silencers.
The "Hearing Protection Act" is endorsed by the American Suppressor Association (ASA) and National Rifle Association (NRA) and is sponsored by U.S. Arizona Representative Matt Salmon along with 10 co-sponsors, AL.com wrote.
Chris Cox, executive director of NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, told AmmoLand that "suppressors significantly reduce the chance of hearing loss for anyone who enjoys the shooting sports." Since 1934, the federal government has treated devices functioning as a muffler or suppressor as Title II devices, Guns.com reported. The devices are under the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) and have a mandated transfer tax stamp that costs $200.
According to Gun.com, now that the NFA requirements are lifted, firearms with suppressors are allowed to "transfer through any regular federal firearms license holders to anyone not prohibited from possessing them after the buyer passes an FBI instant background check." Buyers would have to spend months undergoing the Form 4 process before, but now, they would only have to complete the standard 4473 Form prior to possessing a firearm.
"Despite common Hollywood-based misconceptions, the laws of physics dictate that no suppressor will ever be able to render gunfire silent. Suppressors are simply mufflers for firearms," the ASA wrote in its website. "In addition to hearing protection, suppressors also mitigate noise complaints from those who live near shooting ranges and hunting lands."
In addition, taxes paid after Oct. 22 will be refunded to customers if the bill becomes law, AL.com noted.
ASA President Knox Williams told Guns.com that their association has been aiming to remove suppressors from the NRA for a long time now. The "Hearing Protection Act" is described by Williams as the conclusion of their "efforts to enact pro-suppressor reform on both the state and federal levels," the news outlet added.
Legal production of silencers has been rampant in the past years. In 2014, The NFRTR listed 571,150 registered silencers, Guns.com wrote. A 39 percent growth occurred earlier this year with 792,282 registrations.
"The numbers of NFA-compliant suppressors currently listed nearly eclipse the total number of select-fire weapons, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns, combined," Guns.com further noted.
Williams admitted that they don't expect the bill to pass quickly, but they are confident that their persisting educational and outreach initiatives will eventually lead to the passage of the legislation. He also added that the bill's enactment will "result in safer and more enjoyable shooting and hunting experiences for generations of sportsmen and women to come," the news outlet reported.