Beren
Moderator Emeritus
Fellow High Roaders,
With the growing number of noise complaints lodged against gun ranges and the ever-present risk of hearing damage associated with target shooting and self-defense, wouldn't it be nice if it were more affordable and convenient for the average, law-abiding American to own and use a firearm sound suppressor? Currently, we have to pay an onerous two-hundred dollar tax and secure the signature of our local chief law enforcement officer as well as the bloated prices our current laws cause. We face additional legal problems if we wish to use our suppressors with "post-ban" rifles.
I'd like to develop a bill that would make it less costly and more covenient for the average, law-abiding American to afford and use a sound suppressor for target shooting (including competition use) and self-defense.
Basically, the bill would:
- lower the tax stamp cost to $25 from the current $200
- replace the current requirement for a CLEO signature with notification provided to the CLEO, similar to what is required for C&R licenses
- require issuance of the tax stamp within thirty days of application, unless the applicant has a criminal record that would prevent him from owning a firearm
- remove restrictions on the attachment of sound suppressors to any rifle or handgun and authorize the actual use of the combined instrument for lawful target shooting and self-defense
- possession and/or use of a suppressor or suppressed firearm during the commission of a violent felony covered by federal law would be a crime in itself punishable by a fine or up to five years imprisonment
The bill would not affect state law.
With the barriers to ownership greatly lowered, we should see greater availability and lower costs to purchase suppressors and suppressed firearms.
Do you see any value in pushing to have such a law passed? Would you help push your local reps to sponsor or co-sponsor something like this? Are you a lawyer or paralegal with the skills to help draft a formal bill?
Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Beren
With the growing number of noise complaints lodged against gun ranges and the ever-present risk of hearing damage associated with target shooting and self-defense, wouldn't it be nice if it were more affordable and convenient for the average, law-abiding American to own and use a firearm sound suppressor? Currently, we have to pay an onerous two-hundred dollar tax and secure the signature of our local chief law enforcement officer as well as the bloated prices our current laws cause. We face additional legal problems if we wish to use our suppressors with "post-ban" rifles.
I'd like to develop a bill that would make it less costly and more covenient for the average, law-abiding American to afford and use a sound suppressor for target shooting (including competition use) and self-defense.
Basically, the bill would:
- lower the tax stamp cost to $25 from the current $200
- replace the current requirement for a CLEO signature with notification provided to the CLEO, similar to what is required for C&R licenses
- require issuance of the tax stamp within thirty days of application, unless the applicant has a criminal record that would prevent him from owning a firearm
- remove restrictions on the attachment of sound suppressors to any rifle or handgun and authorize the actual use of the combined instrument for lawful target shooting and self-defense
- possession and/or use of a suppressor or suppressed firearm during the commission of a violent felony covered by federal law would be a crime in itself punishable by a fine or up to five years imprisonment
The bill would not affect state law.
With the barriers to ownership greatly lowered, we should see greater availability and lower costs to purchase suppressors and suppressed firearms.
Do you see any value in pushing to have such a law passed? Would you help push your local reps to sponsor or co-sponsor something like this? Are you a lawyer or paralegal with the skills to help draft a formal bill?
Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Beren