New Hearing Protection Act Presented to Congress Which Would Remove Suppressors from NFA
OutdoorHub Reporters 01.10.17
Another hopeful attempt to deregulate suppressors and silencers from National Firearms Act regulation is underway this week.
The Duncan-Carter Hearing Protection Act was presented by GOP sponsors U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina and Rep. John Carter from Texas. The bill will take aim to deregulate suppressors as well as promote their use to shooters to prevent hearing loss.
“Many gun owners and sportsmen suffer severe hearing loss after years of shooting, and yet the tool necessary to reduce such loss is onerously regulated and taxed. It doesn’t make any sense,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, NRA-ILA. “The Duncan-Carter Hearing Protection Act would allow people easier access to suppressors, which would help them to better protect their hearing.”
Suppressors have been federally regulated since the passage of the National Firearms Act of 1934. Currently, not even Britain, which has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, has restrictions on suppressors like in the U.S.
The new proposal also provides the opportunity for a refund on the $200 transfer tax to anyone who purchased a suppressor after October 22, 2015.
A similar bill was introduced in 2015, however, despite being one of the most-viewed bills on Congress.gov last year, it did not garnish enough weight to make it out of committee.
Times have now changed, and with residency of the White House currently in flux, many believe change is on the horizon. The bill still has a long way to go, as changing federal law is nothing quick and easy, but those in favor of the new bill certainly have reason to be more optimistic this time around.
“Gun owners and sportsmen should be able to practice their sport with the tools necessary to do so safely. This bill makes it easier for them to do that,” concluded Cox.
