Senators Mike Lee (above) and Mike Crapo (below) have introduced the Silencers Help Us Save Hearing or SHUSH bill in the World’s Greatest Deliberative Body. If enacted, SHUSH would go a step further than current version of the Hearing Protection Act that’s being considered by classifying suppressors as firearms accessories.
Here’s Senator Lee’s press release:
WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing Act of 2017, Thursday, a bill that would ensure the elimination of all federal regulations of suppressors.
“Suppressors can make shooting safer for the millions of hunters and sportsmen that exercise their constitutional right to use firearms every year,” Sen. Lee said. “The current process for obtaining a suppressor is far too expensive and burdensome. Our bill would remove these unnecessary federal regulations and make it easier for firearms users to protect themselves.
“By properly classifying suppressors as a firearm accessory, our bill would allow sportsmen to have better access to hearing protection and preserve the hearing of sportsmen, gun owners and those who live near shooting ranges,” Sen. Crapo said.
The bill has been introduced in the House by Congressman Steve King of Iowa. You can read the Senate bill here.
The current version of the HPA would eliminate the $200 tax stamp as well as the months-long ATF processing delay, but would require a 4473-style transfer via an FFL. By classifying suppressors as firearm accessories, SHUSH would eliminate the transfer requirement, allowing over-the-counter sales just like a laser, an optic or a magazine.
Our friends in the anti-gun community have already expressed their disapproval (silent killers! stealthy assassins!) of the regulatory burden reduction the HPA would afford. Eliminating all regulation on the sales of these common-sense safety items should cause blood pressures to rise and panties to torque throughout the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex. Even if you don’t plan on ever buying a suppressor, that alone would be reason enough to support the bill’s passage.