U.S. Representative Michael Cloud from Texas has put forward the SHUSH Act in the House of Representatives, aiming to deregulate suppressors. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Mike Lee of Utah.
Suppressors, often referred to as silencers, fall under the regulation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) through the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). These devices are commonly misunderstood due to their portrayal in Hollywood as tools for stealthy assassinations. However, despite this perception, only a small fraction of suppressors are used in criminal activities.
The SHUSH Act is not alone in Congress with its objective to remove suppressors from NFA regulations. Another piece of legislation, known as the Hearing Protection Act (HPA), has been introduced by Representative Ben Cline from Virginia. While both bills share similarities, they differ on certain points. The HPA would allow the ATF to regulate any tube that can be attached to a firearm barrel as a suppressor, even if it lacks baffles. This provision is absent from the SHUSH Act. Currently, there is no companion bill for the HPA in the Senate, though one is anticipated.
For either bill to advance through Congress, challenges remain. Despite Republicans holding a majority in both chambers, a supermajority is required for passage to reach President Donald Trump’s desk for signing into law. It is uncertain whether enough Democratic Senators would support such legislation.
An alternative route could involve attaching the bill to essential legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act or budgetary measures necessary for government operations—strategies previously employed by Democrats.
Should deregulation occur, suppressor prices are expected to decrease significantly due to reduced regulatory costs and elimination of a $200 tax stamp currently imposed by the ATF.
Advocates argue that U.S. gun laws regarding suppressors lag behind other countries where shooting without them is considered impolite. They suggest it might be time for change domestically.
Republished with permission from AmmoLand.
