Guns and Court TV

[dreamaker]

Took a break and watched The Peoples Court, they had a case about a Fed gun dealer supplying and mounting suppressors on two rifles. I thought is was interesting case and comments. I didn't get what state they were from, but the time it took and the price, I couldn't believe it. First the total price agreed on was $4900 for the job, but the paperwork and background check could take 8 months to a year to finalize the job. The thing I found real interesting was, the TMZ guy talking to the people, and the people on the streets opinions were basically the same. Question was, why would you put a suppressor on a rifle, myself, I would have thought it would be used for hunting, and the device used to not to spook the other animals. When they all answered they said to shoot other people, seems rather bias to me on their part. Show how ignorant and stupid people think and don't have a clue, always resorting to the negative.
Does it really cost and take that long to get a permit?

[Serk]

There's no permit involved, just an individual tax stamp per item being transferred but yes, it takes a  long time.

During the initial Obama (pbuh)-scare the wait time for a form 4 was over a year. It had recently gotten down to 4-5 months (I just picked up a suppressor I bought in August, waiting on the tax stamp for another to come in that I bought in late August) but with His latest edicts targeting NFA transfers specifically expect the wait time to shoot back up over a year again.

The price isn't that high for MOST suppressors, unless you're talking a .50 BMG one or some other big bore setup and a lot of custom work to the gun.

A very high end rifle can usually runs in the $800-$1000 range, plus the $200 tax stamp to the gubmint.

[czuch]

That's why I don't have any guns.
That's a lot of money I can spend taking Subways and blankets to the homeless.

[Davet261]

5K so animals won't see the flash?  I've hunted all my life and I've never spooked an animal because of the flash.  It's the bang that spooks them.

[Serk]

5K so animals won't see the flash?  I've hunted all my life and I've never spooked an animal because of the flash.  It's the bang that spooks them.

He's talking about sound suppressors... (AKA "Silencers", although they're far from silent)

[dreamaker]

I am sorry, I may have made a mistake, or mislead my point, I was with the understanding that a suppressor, is another name for a silencer. I have on several occasions, seen the term applied as a sound suppressor not a flash suppressor. The case was concerning a silencer, I apologize for the confusion.

[Serk]

I am sorry, I may have made a mistake, or mislead my point, I was with the understanding that a suppressor, is another name for a silencer. I have on several occasions, seen the term applied as a sound suppressor not a flash suppressor. The case was concerning a silencer, I apologize for the confusion.

Suppressor is the technical term, silencer is the legal term, and "a can" is the slang term. Many places use the terms interchangeably...

(Some folks try to say you shouldn't use the term silencer because they're not SILENT, however, the legal term IS silencer, and the very first one was called a silencer by it's manufacturer, so it's hard to argue against the term at this point.)

[PAVALKER]

I think this silencer/suppressor stuff is out of hand.  It costs too much, the tax stamp alone is 200 buck, takes to long in the paper work department and you have to have local LEO signoff on it (which maybe under review for a change of that signoff).  plus, if you dont have a threaded barrel, you have to have a gun smith do that prior to installation. It's a safety and health issue for hearing and noise reduction and probably doesn't even deserve to be in that NFA class IMO.  Like was said, its not making the shooting silent, just suppresses the noise, you can still hear it.  Stock Goldwing Mufflers might do a better job of noise silencing.

The so called oil can suppressors or sediment traps, are big and interfere with the sights, maybe not a scope tho, and still require the tax stamp and paper work.

If it was more affordable and less stress or time consuming I can see where it would be a good thing, from a safety and health issue and more folks might be inclined to get one. 

[Serk]

you have to have local LEO signoff on it (which maybe under review for a change of that signoff). 

Ironically, one of Obama (pbuh)'s executive orders against gun owners turned into ATF41p which went through the public comment process and came out as ATF41f which will go into effect in 180 days, eliminating the CLEO signoff for individual, trust or corporation transfers (BUT adding the requirement that all responsible parties of a trust of corporation submit fingerprints, passport photos and notify CLEO).

So, He inadvertently made it slightly easier to transfer NFA items as an individual, but made it more difficult to do so as a trust or corporation.

And yes, suppressors absolutely should be removed from the NFA. If guns were invented today suppressors wouldn't be overly regulated, they'd be required as a basic safety item and for consideration of those near you while shooting.

It doesn't stand a chance of passing right now, but contact your congress critters and urge them to support the Hearing Protection Act. Hopefully with enough traction we can get it through and eventually passed so that this basic safety item moves from the realm of the exotic to the realm of the everyday: http://americansuppressorassociation.com/asa-announces-hearing-protection-act-a-bill-to-remove-suppressors-from-the-nfa/

(Yeah, if ya' haven't noticed, suppressors have become one of my favorite windmills to tilt at... Just picked up #3 the other day, should be getting #4 in a few weeks, and eyeing a #5 to start the paperwork on soon.)