[GunsAmerica] Last week, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), along with Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), James Risch (R-ID), and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced a bill that would eliminate the federal regulation of firearm sound 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 in a press release. "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."
In introducing the bill, called the Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing Act or SHUSH Act (S. 202), Sen. Lee explained that it would eliminate the "onerous and unconstitutional process" that must currently be followed when purchasing a suppressor.
The current process requires filing a petition with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). To file the petition, a purchaser must fill out two copies of ATF Form 4 (which requires that a passport photo be attached to each copy), obtain two copies of his/her fingerprints on FBI Form FD-258, and pay a $200 processing fee. It takes nine to 12 months for the petition to be processed.
Suppressors would be considered firearm accessories and the current petitioning requirements would be eliminated if the bill becomes law. 
|
