(Idaho State) U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) led a group of 28 additional Senate colleagues in reintroducing S. 364, the Hearing Protection Act (HPA). The HPA would reclassify suppressors to regulate them like a regular firearm.
“Federal red tape continues to follow the false Hollywood narrative that suppressors are silent, and ignores the reality that they serve a genuine purpose in protecting the hearing of law-abiding American citizens exercising their Second Amendment rights,” said Senator Crapo. “It is past time Congress removes the burdensome barriers to accessing this equipment for the safety of Idaho’s hunters and sportsmen.”
Suppressors are currently subject to additional regulatory burdens under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The HPA would remove suppressors from regulation under the NFA and replace the burdensome federal transfer process with an instantaneous National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check. This would make the purchasing and transfer process for suppressors equal to the process for a rifle or shotgun. Also, the HPA would put more funding into state wildlife conservation agencies by taxing suppressors under the Pittman-Robertson Act instead of the NFA.
Original co-sponsors of the HPA include Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Mike Rounds (R-North Dakota), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) and Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin).
“Silencers and suppressors are non-lethal firearm accessories used by law abiding gun owners across America, and excessive federal regulation is a backdoor attack on the Second Amendment,” said Senator Lee. “This bill will allow more Americans to protect their hearing and make it easier to exercise their Constitutional rights to keep and bear arms.”
“Law-abiding Americans across the country use suppressors to protect their hearing during outdoor recreation activities, especially Nebraska’s hunters and sportsmen,” said Senator Fischer. “The Hearing Protection Act will free us from overly burdensome regulations that infringe on our Second Amendment rights.”
“Obstructing law-abiding Montanans’ right to use firearm suppressors threatens their health and freedoms,” said Senator Daines. “We must cut these unnecessary regulations and protect Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”
“Federal rules and regulations for suppressors don’t make sense and infringe upon the Second Amendment rights for law-abiding gun owners,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “The current regulations are overly restrictive, and as a result, too many hunters and their companions are being hurt. The Hearing Protection Act would bring common sense to how suppressors are regulated, helping hunters and sport shooters in Mississippi and across the country avoid permanent hearing damage.”
“Big government shouldn’t stand in the way of protecting lawful gun owners’ hearing,” said Senator Kennedy. “I’m proud to help introduce this bill to make it easier for Louisianians and all Americans to practice their Second Amendment rights safely,” said Kennedy.”
“Increasing access to hearing protection for sportsmen and hunters is common sense,” said Senator Boozman. “Law-abiding, responsible gun owners should not have to fight burdensome regulations to enjoy their hobbies safely and with the accessories that can protect their hearing. I am proud to join my colleagues to update unreasonable
“Every law-abiding American must have the freedom to protect their hearing while exercising their Second Amendment rights,” said Senator Mullin. “Our bill removes suppressors from the National Firearms Act to cut wait times and stop the government from imposing a tax on Americans trying to protect themselves from hearing damage. The Second Amendment is crystal clear. I will do everything in my power to protect lawful gun ownership and eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles that infringe on our God-given rights.”
“The Second Amendment is one of our most important freedoms, and law-abiding Tennesseans should not have to face unnecessary regulations to use their firearms safely without damaging their hearing,” said Senator Blackburn. “This legislation would improve access to hearing protection equipment for recreational gun users, and I am pleased to join Senator Crapo in introducing this critical bill.”
“Hunters and recreational shooters rely on suppressors to help protect their hearing while using firearms,” said Senator Moran. “This legislation modernizes the process for purchasing suppressors by requiring the same background checks as for firearms, while ensuring that hunters, sportsmen and recreational shooters can legally obtain noise suppressors to help make their sport safer.”
“Americans have a constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms, and law-abiding citizens should have access to hearing protection equipment like suppressors, which are proven tools for reducing noise and preventing hearing loss,” said Senator Cramer. “By removing unnecessary government red tape, this bill protects the rights and well-being of gun owners in North Dakota and across the country.”
“Burdensome regulations on firearm suppressors are doing more harm than good to sportsmen and women,” said Senator Cotton. “Our legislation will ensure law-abiding gun owners can easily access hearing protection without having to navigate bureaucratic red tape or exorbitant taxes.”
“The Hearing Protection Act is a commonsense bill that removes burdensome federal regulations for a firearm accessory that improves firearm safety for hunters and recreational sport shooters,” said Senator Rick Scott. “I’m proud to protect Americans’ Second Amendment rights and work with my colleagues to pass this bill.”
“I support the Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding gun owners, and we should remove unnecessary barriers to safety devices that make recreational shooting safer,” said Senator Johnson.
“Suppressors offer vital hearing protection for individuals who are hunting and target shooting,” said Senator Hoeven. “Our legislation cuts red tape and helps responsible gun owners better access this tool to protect their hearing.”
The Hearing Protection Act is supported by the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the American Suppressor Association (ASA), Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA).
“The Hearing Protection Act will increase access to important hearing protection for millions of Americans,” said Amyn Amlani, Ph.D., President of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. “While the use of conventional hearing protection tools, such as earplugs and earmuffs are fundamental for preventing noise induced hearing loss in firearm users, conventional hearing protection alone does not always offer adequate protection from noise exposure. Firearm noise suppressors can be an effective supplement to traditional hearing protection.”
“Senator Mike Crapo’s Hearing Protection Act will have the federal government recognize firearm suppressors as accessories to a firearm that make recreational shooting and hunting a safer experience,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “These safety devices reduce the report of a firearm to a level that won’t cause instant and permanent hearing damage. Despite Hollywood’s depictions, they do not silence the sound of a firearm. The focus should be on removing barriers to safe and responsible use of firearms and dedicating resources to ensuring firearms are safeguarded from those who should never possess them. Strict regulatory control of firearm accessories, and the parts of those accessories that have no bearing on the function of a firearm, is unnecessary and not the wisest use of federal resources. NSSF thanks Senator Crapo for his leadership for ensuring safe and responsible use of firearms and dedicating necessary resources where they are most needed.”
“We are grateful to Senator Crapo for standing behind the millions of law-abiding gun owners with his reintroduction of the Hearing Protection Act,” said Knox Williams, President and Executive Director of the American Suppressor Association. “It’s absurd that our unrestrained federal bureaucracy requires Americans to jump through hoops to buy simple hearing protection devices. Momentum continues to grow for common sense reforms that would end the stranglehold of government on the rights of her people. We look forward to working with Senator Crapo and his colleagues to ensure our Second Amendment rights remain a priority.”
“Gun owners around the world are using suppressors to reduce the impact of noise and hearing loss while using their firearms. Even in countries with the strictest firearms laws, suppressors are often unregulated products that anyone can buy over the counter. However, outdated federal law makes it difficult for Americans to access these useful safety devices,” said John Commerford, Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. “On behalf of our millions of members, the NRA thanks Senator Mike Crapo for introducing this important legislation to roll back the bureaucratic red tape on suppressor ownership in the United States.”
Full bill text is available here.
Background:
On average, suppressors diminish the noise of a gunshot by 20-35 decibels, roughly the same sound reduction provided by earplugs or earmuffs. The most effective suppressors on the market can only reduce the peak sound level of a gunshot to around 110-120 decibels, which is roughly equivalent to a jackhammer.
