Owning a Suppressor is About to Get Much Tougher

By Ready to Fire News On Jan 23, 2019

As if you weren’t having enough trouble purchasing guns and ammunition, there are now laws around whether or not you can legally own a sound-suppressing mechanism: also known as a silencer or suppressor.

As of now, there are 42 states that permit private ownership of suppressors, meaning that it’s already illegal in several states throughout the U.S. — a problematic thought for sure.

While there are a large number of movies that show silencers as merely a method of stealthy assassinations, there are many other reasons why suppressors are popular. Whether you are simply trying to keep your activity a little quiet or you don’t want to damage your hearing with the loud sounds of shooting, silencers are simply another accessory that can be added to your weapons.

The National Rifle Association and the American Suppressor Association are on a mission to educate individuals and lawmakers about the lawful uses of sound suppressing devices. Unfortunately, this hasn’t had the necessary effect on lawmakers as they continue to attack the Second Amendment rights of Americans — plus, the right to protect their hearing.

For regular shooters, hearing loss can be a serious problem. More than 26 million people in America have high-frequency hearing loss due to either leisure activities or work-related noise. A typical rifle can emit up to 158 dB per shot, and the recommendation for human ears is to keep sounds below 140 dB (decibels). Suppressors are beneficial in many instances because they can significantly reduce the noise levels by anywhere from 15-50 dB, enough to get the sound within the range that shouldn’t cause damage to human hearing. It’s important to keep in mind that this can also have an impact on our furry friends, too, as their hearing is often more delicate than ours.

Another key reason that shooters choose to use silencers is to prevent the ever-present “Boom!” that can result from backyard shooting. Even if neighbors aren’t particularly close, they may not appreciate the ongoing sounds of shooting that are coming from your property. When people aren’t being annoyed by the sound of firearms, they are much more likely to “live and let live” instead of attacking gun owners for their leisure activities. Some individuals aren’t necessarily offended by the idea of guns being in the hands of everyday Americans. Instead, their main frustration with guns is that they’re noisy! Using a suppressor in a situation where there are close neighbors can potentially help you retain your rights by reducing the detrimental noise impact on others.

If you are one of the many thousands of happy (and safe!) silencer owners, be on the lookout for the many ways that government lawmakers are attempting to limit your rights and get active! Only by proving that these firearm accessories can be safely used by responsible owners will we be able to turn the tide of negativity that seems to be sweeping the nation in favor of gun control.

~ Ready to Fire News