Democrats introduce legislation to ban gun silencers

@Pudge was nice enough to find and send me the link to the actual bill in question. Please read and discuss the bill as it is presented at this time.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1943/text

earlthegoat2 said:

....Is someone who doesn’t know the law drafting up laws again?

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Quite likely, yes. I go through popvox looking for gun bills with some regularity. It's amazing how often legislators propose bill that are already the law. For example "to prevent domestic abusers from possessing firearms...."

It didn't get anywhere in 2019 when it was introduced and there aren't enough votes to pass it now since there are senators on both sides of the aisle that won't support banning suppressors.
Here's a link to the 2021 bill. https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/pu...15BF6623D53A52A052A37E62FE775194.hear-act.pdf

Here's the thread in Activism with guidance on what might be done to suppress this legislation. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/2021-hear-act-to-ban-and-buyback-suppressors.887351/ (please remember that Activism is a work space and very focused on what to do constructively to oppose Anti legislation and support Pro2A legislation).

As we, but not everyone, know suppressors are already NFA regulated and registered items requiring not only a background check, but Chief LEO approval, suppressors are legal in 42 states and legal to hunt with in 40 states, the Europeans and the 42 states treat them as hearing protective devices for shooters and as a courtesy for others, and that anyone supporting the legislation will be on the wrong side of the states and an embarrassment for supporting banning a federally regulated and registered firearms devices that require federal background checks and LE approval for the improved safety of users and those nearby.

In addition to Feinstein and Menendez, the HEAR Act is also cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

Note that there is NO other sponsorship than these well known extreme Antis.

While suppressors may rarely be used in murders that is so rare it is below people being murdered by asphyxiation (another overused movie trope).

Aside from prohibiting silencers, the HEAR Act would also:

• Authorize a buyback program for silencers using Byrne JAG grants;
• Provide individuals with a 90-day grace period after the date of enactment for individuals to comply with the ban;
• Provide limited exceptions for certain current and former law enforcement personnel, for certain Atomic Energy personnel and purpose, and for certain authorized testing or experimentation.

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This bill is also supported by Everytown for Gun Safety and the Violence Policy Center.

“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.”

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The below map shows the 42 states suppressors are legal and the 40 they're legal to hunt with. Focus efforts to oppose this on the senators from those states and use the language from the state legislation that almost uniformly cite the safety and courtesy suppressors add.