Frequently Asked Questions
Are suppressors legal?
Yes. Contrary to popular belief,
suppressors are and always have been legal to own under federal law.
At this time, the following states allow private ownership of
suppressors: AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME,
MD, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA,
WA, WI, and WY. Of the fifteen states that do not allow
civilian ownership, CA, IA, KS, MA, MO, and MI allow Class 3 dealers
and Class 2 manufacturers to possess suppressors.
Who can own a suppressor?
To legally purchase a silencer or
any item falling under the purview of the NFA, you must be at least 21
years of age, a resident of the United States, have no felony
record and live in a state that allows private ownership of suppressors.
How quiet is a silenced gun?
The dominant noise heard with a rimfire suppressor is the click of the bolt opening and closing and the thump of bullet impact downrange. Centerfire pistol caliber suppressors are almost as discreet and pack a much heavier punch downrange. Centerfire rifle caliber firearms will realize a significant decrease in muzzle blast, muzzle flash, and recoil, but the suppressor does nothing to mitigate the ballistic crack (sonic boom) produced by a projectile traveling above the speed of sound (approximately 1087 feet per second).
Why would anyone want a suppressor?
A silenced firearm is eminently more enjoyable to shoot than one without a suppressor. Shooters are able to concentrate more on breath control and trigger pull when they are not subjected to the fatigue and distraction of a loud, bright, muzzle blast. Beginning shooters are typically not intimidated when introduced to the shooting sports with a silenced firearm, and are able to easily hear instructions given to them by trainers since hearing protection is no longer needed. Silenced firearms are also less likely to disturb any people, livestock, or wildlife that may be in close proximity to where you shoot.
Do I have to have a license to own a suppressor?
Suppressors, like machine-guns,
are regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934, and are
regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The
procedure for owning a silencer may seem daunting at first, but actually requires less paperwork than buying an automobile. The first step is to locate a Class 3 dealer in your state who either has or will order the item you are interested in. Once a product and price have been settled on, the Class 3 dealer will provide the prospective purchaser with duplicate ATF Form 4's and two sets of fingerprint cards.
The Form 4's must be filled out on both sides, with passport photos of the prospective buyer affixed to the backside of the form. The buyer then has the Chief Law Enforcement officer sign the rear of the Form 4's attesting the prospective purchaser does not possess a criminal record and is not wanted. The two fingerprint cards must be completed and signed by a Law Enforcement agency.
The completed paperwork is then sent to the Department of the Treasury with a check or money order for $200.00. The $200.00 is known as a "transfer tax" because it must be paid whenever ownership of the silencer is "transferred" (in this case, the dealer to the prospective purchaser). As long as ownership remains with the same person, the tax need not be paid again. Only if the owner sells it will a new transfer tax need to be paid. An owner may will his suppressor to a lawful heir with no tax incurred.
Once the paperwork is submitted, it normally takes 60 to 120 days to receive the approved, stamped paperwork from the NFA Branch. It is only upon the return of the approved paperwork that the dealer can allow the prospective purchaser to take possession of their new suppressor. A copy of the approved paperwork must accompany the suppressor at all times (the original should be stored in a safe deposit box). Suppressors can be transported to other states that allow their ownership, but to transport a suppressor into one of the states which prohibit private ownership can subject the owner to serious state felony charges.
