If you have a firearm noise suppressor in a box collecting dust, soon you’ll be dusting it off and will get to use it if the governor signs a bill that passed the legislature this week.
This is a big deal for hunters and for folks who like to shoot targets in ranges because, under current law, it’s legal to purchase and own noise suppressors but it’s illegal to use them.
Huh?
“That’s like saying it is ok to buy a TV set but it’s illegal to turn it on,” said Rep. Brian Blake, who sponsored House Bill 1016.
“My bill simply brings coherence to the statute by making it legal to use suppressors that are duly registered in accordance with federal law,” said Blake.
The bill does absolutely nothing to weaken current requirements for purchasing a noise suppressor. Prospective buyers will still have to go through the background check, get approval from law enforcement, pay a $200 fee, and be registered with the National Firearms Act database.
Representatives of law enforcement agencies supported this bill because noise suppressors allow them to provide more training opportunities, are safer to use when breaking up meth labs, and help prevent hearing loss for police officers on the job. And neighbors of indoor and outdoor shooting ranges will also appreciate the decrease in noise.
