“Gun silencers and suppressors are dangerous and don’t belong in our communities. They hide the sound of gunfire from potential victims and law enforcement. Removing them will save lives,” said Sen. Feinstein.
“Gun silencers are dangerous devices with one purpose and one purpose only – to muffle the sound of gunfire from unsuspecting victims,” said Sen. Menendez. “The sound of gunshots is what signals you to run, hide, take cover, call the police and help others save themselves; however, this is nearly impossible when a gun silencer is used. That is why we must pass the HEAR Act, commonsense legislation that will prevent armed assailants from using these deadly devices to make it easier to shoot and kill another person.”
“Silencers are not tools of self-defense, they are tools of murder,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “They have no legal application which is why law enforcement officials around the country have been calling for their elimination. The HEAR Act will save lives and is part of the common sense approach to firearms legislation that polls show has widespread support among voters on both sides of the aisle.”
“The only people who could reasonably oppose a ban on gun silencers are criminals trying to avoid detection by law enforcement or mass murderers trying to hurt as many people as possible,” said Sen. Blumenthal. “Whether a firearm is being used in a mugging or a massacre, the sound of a gunshot is a warning that helps bystanders get to safety and allows law enforcement to track and apprehend the shooter.”
“Silencers present a grave risk of danger to our communities and law enforcement because it makes it difficult to ascertain the location of an active shooter,” said Sen. Booker. “The HEAR Act is a commonsense solution that will help address our nation’s gun violence epidemic by prohibiting all use, sale, importation, manufacture or possession of gun silencers. The time to act is now–we can no longer allow for this disturbing pattern to continue in our country.”
“Silencers don’t just silence gun noise, they silence warnings of nearby danger,” said Sen. Markey. “With roughly two million registered gun silencers across the country that inhibit law enforcement’s ability to identify shooters and the public’s ability to seek safety, the HEAR Act will ban these silencers and help put an end to needless gun violence deaths in the United States. It is long past time to pass commonsense gun safety legislation, and I am proud to support the HEAR Act as an important step in stopping this public health epidemic.”
“Gun silencers and suppressors have no place in our communities—they threaten public safety and first responders,” said Sen. Padilla. “Silencers only increase the potential for more victims and greater tragedy during a mass shooting. Banning gun silencers is a commonsense proposal that could be the difference between life and death when faced with an active shooter.”