WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Congressman Michael Cloud (TX-27) have introduced the Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing (SHUSH) Act in the Senate and House, a bill to eliminate the excessive regulation of firearm suppressors. The bill seeks to simplify the purchase process for law-abiding citizens and reduce unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles. Senate cosponsors of the SHUSH Act include Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and John Curtis (R-UT). The SHUSH Act has garnered the support of the National Association for Gun Rights, Gun Owners of America, the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
“Despite what Hollywood may lead you to believe, silencers aren’t silent, and they aren’t just for secret agents,” said Senator Lee. “They are a vital tool for hearing protection for countless marksmen and gun enthusiasts across America, and making them prohibitively difficult to obtain is an assault on the 2nd Amendment. The SHUSH Act eliminates federal regulation of silencers and treats them as the non-lethal accessory that they are.”
“Suppressors are a vital tool for responsible gun owners that protect hearing, enhance safety, and reduce firearm noise—but thanks to Hollywood and federal overreach, they’ve been unfairly vilified,” said Congressman Cloud. “Law-abiding Americans shouldn’t have to endure months of red tape and pay an additional tax just to access a safety accessory. The SHUSH Act puts an end to this unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, eliminates the federal tax, and prevents state overreach by treating suppressors like any other firearm accessory.”
“Suppressors are accessories and should be treated just like magazines, scopes, or gun stocks,” said Hunter King, National Association for Gun Rights. “Treating an accessory the same as a gun sets a bad precedence for anti-gun legislators to further regulate other accessories in the future. There’s no reason they should be subjected to the Brady registration scheme. We’re happy and privileged to be able to work with Sen. Lee and Rep. Cloud on this legislation,”
“Gun Owners of America applauds the introduction of the ‘Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing Act’ (SHUSH) Act. The SHUSH Act would not only remove suppressors from the federal regulations of the National Firearms Act, but also treat suppressors as any other firearm accessory – free from the infringing background check process. Senator Lee’s bill will not only benefit hunters and sport shooters, but also take much needed steps for gun owners to restore the rights protected by the Second Amendment,” said Aidan Johnston, Director of Government Affairs, Gun Owners of America.
Background
Suppressors, commonly known as silencers, are non-lethal firearm accessories widely used by hunters, sportsmen, and marksmen. These devices enhance safety by reducing noise, recoil, and muzzle blast. Contrary to popular belief, they do not completely silence firearms.
Currently, the process to legally acquire a suppressor involves an extensive and burdensome procedure through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), including:
Completing two copies of ATF Form 4
Filling out ATF Form 5330.20 Certification of Compliance
Obtaining certification from a local chief law enforcement officer and two copies of fingerprints
Submitting two passport photos and a $200 check to the ATF
This approval process can take 9-12 months, making the purchase of a suppressor prohibitively complex and costly for many consumers.
The SHUSH Act aims to:
Eliminate federal regulation of suppressors as firearms under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and the Gun Control Act (GCA).
Remove existing taxes, fees, and registration requirements associated with suppressors.
Allow current or retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms with suppressors.
Preempt state regulations on the manufacture, transfer, transport, or possession of suppressors.
Strike provisions requiring mandatory minimum sentences for suppressor possession in certain cases.
Exempt suppressors from regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Provide a provision for a refund of the $200 transfer tax for anyone who purchased a suppressor within two years prior to the enactment of the bill.
If passed, the SHUSH Act will work alongside the Hearing Protection Act to further deregulate suppressors and remove them from the Gun Control Act of 1968.
Suppressors should be removed from the NFA and become an over-the-counter product like they are in Europe and elsewhere.
I don’t care what your view is on this legislation, but I shall provide the obligatory “FUCK MIKE LEE”.
What? A common sense gun law from republicans?
Good! In civilized countries, using a suppressor is often mandatory. There’s no good reason to restrict them as much as we do in the US. It’s not like people are going to start running around committing assassinations with silent guns, because as noted, they’re still not silent, and the existing noise doesn’t stop people from committing gun violence (and people committing gun crimes probably aren’t respecting gun law anyway).
It’s not like people are going to start running around committing assassinations with silent guns
Uhhhhhh
None of the recent incidents involved suppressors, and I see no reason more availability would have made a difference. You’re not going to get away with it in any case.
None of the recent incidents involved suppressors
Uhhhhhh
I could keep this joke going, but I’ll instead say that you’re forgetting about the broad daylight assassination of UHS CEO Brian Thompson, where the shooter used a suppressed pistol. Sure, it’s one incident. But frankly, with the current political climate and perhaps the coming economic climate driving people to desperation…I would not be surprised if we see copycats.
Yes, it appears that the shooter used a 3D printed suppressor and glock frame. That is not a good excuse to deregulate factory suppressors. Saying that there is no tactical value in the signature reduction suppressors give is disingenuous.
Huh, I guess he did. I did a brief search before writing that comment, and the articles with the least speculation didn’t mention the suppressor.
But like I said, I doubt the use of a suppressor is going to enable more crimes, nor make or break solving a case. “I would love to go shoot someone, but it’s just too dang loud” doesn’t seem realistic.
It very well could embolden a lot of Americans who think they make guns almost silent like they do in movies to commit all sorts of violent acts.
It’s not like any gun law in America has ever come with any sort of education.
Finally common sense gun laws.
