Hearing Protection Act Gets Heard on Capitol Hill, Clears Committee

Authors Current Events S.H. Blannelberry
Hearing Protection Act Gets Heard on Capitol Hill, Clears Committee

Were HPA to become law, there would be no NFA application, registration or $200 tax levy for suppressors.

The suppressor de-regulation bill known as the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) got heard this week on Capitol Hill by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee as part of a larger, pro-gun omnibus package known as the SHARE Act.  Good news, it cleared the committee!!!

At Tuesday’s hearing, though, opponents of the measure wasted no time slamming it, arguing that removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act jeopardizes public safety.

“Silencers mask the sound of a gun, changing the sound into one not easily recognized as gunfire. As a result, ambush-style murders become easier, and bystanders may not know to alert first responders,” said David Chipman, a policy adviser for the pro-gun control organization Americans for Responsible Solutions.

Chipman, a former agent at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, was invited by the Democrats to testify.

“Congress must do more to make our communities safer, not put silencers in the hands of criminals, making it harder for people, including law enforcement, to identify the sound of gunfire, locate active shooters, and keep our communities safe,” continued Chipman.

Proponents of the HPA shot down these complaints, pointing out that criminals already have access to suppressors and that the current restrictions only keep responsible citizens from using them.

“It’s easy to make a suppressor. If you want to make one now you can do it and a person who would not be dissuaded from committing a murder by capital punishment potentially is not going to worry about a National Firearms Act conviction for non-registration of a suppressor,” said Stephen Halbrook, a Second Amendment attorney and guest of the Republicans.

“The fact is we’ve heard a parade of horribles of issues that would apply to criminals and we have criminal misuse of weapons now,” he continued. “This bill would simply make it easier for law abiding people to protect their hearing.”

After all the mindless squabbling by the Democrats, the committee passed the SHARE Act on Wednesday. In addition to HPA, the SHARE Act also contains the following, per the NRA-ILA:

  • Securing the future of hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting by increasing access to federal public lands.
  • Reforming of the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA), which protects the lawful, legal transport of unloaded firearms.
  • Strengthening protections for carrying firearms on land managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Removing the undefined and antiquated “sporting purposes test”, which opens the door to arbitrary ammunition bans.
  • Returning wildlife management of the gray wolf back to states adversely affected by rising populations.

“Today marks an important step in protecting the Second Amendment freedoms of America’s hunters and sportsmen and strengthening our outdoor heritage,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, NRA-ILA. “The SHARE Act will cut burdensome red tape that restricts millions of hunters and sportsmen.”

“I would like to thank Chairman Rob Bishop and Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock for their leadership and critical roles in ensuring committee passage of the SHARE Act. Thanks to their efforts, we are one step closer to the day that all Americans will have better access to our outdoor heritage and the tools that ensure the safety of hunters and sportsmen alike,” concluded Cox.

Everytown for Gun Safety, the gun control organization funded by Michael Bloomberg, was not pleased with the progress of the SHARE Act, specifically the HPA portion.

“Silencers distort the sound of a gun, and in the wrong hands, they put people’s safety at risk. NRA leadership and their friends in Congress have gone behind closed doors to try to prop up lagging gun sales by making it easy for anyone to buy a silencer without a background check,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown.

“This sham bill is a giveaway to the gun lobby, which cannot be allowed to use Congress to put profits ahead of public safety,” he added.

The HPA’s got a long way to go before it becomes law.  But progress is progress and gun owners should be sanguine about its future.  Remember, we have a pro-gun House, Senate, and POTUS.  If there was a time to get it done, this is it!

The SHARE Act should now head to the House floor for consideration, provided Dems don’t find a way to sidetrack it with another committe hearing.

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  • Gus March 11, 2019, 10:55 am

    Ok so that’s the way they want to play the game, their are not millions of guns every day out in the open buzzing around our streets, but their are cars that are too quiet, and ultimately killing innocent people every day! And Electric cars are far worse than any suppressed firearm being nearly completely silent. 1 car could easily take out 6 people VS1 bullet when only placed in the correct spot can kill. Stupidity at its best.

  • ejharb October 10, 2017, 10:41 am

    They found 58 ways to block it! Or 558 ways. Last time suppressor deregulation was bought up it was stopped by a Bernie bot trying to blow away the Republican baseball team.
    Won’t be a next time! “Tabled indefinitely” speaker Ryan called it

  • charles graham September 23, 2017, 4:53 pm

    To make suppressors quiet it will reduce your ballistics to a BB gun power.

    • ejharb October 10, 2017, 10:45 am

      Back to study for you.
      To make a suppressor work most effectively you reduce projectile speed to 1050fps or under. A 45acp 230 goes 830fps.hardly a begun power level😂

  • charles graham September 23, 2017, 4:49 pm

    I have tinnitus from gunfire. Suppressors are never used in crimes. It’s a money and anti gun racket imposed on shooters that want one.

    • ejharb October 10, 2017, 10:47 am

      Suppressors would make guns more fun to shoot fostering the easier introduction of new people.
      Completely unacceptable to the ones who want to take them and enslave us.

  • Big Pop September 21, 2017, 1:23 pm

    Out of all these comments, I can’t believe that no one mentioned the time it takes to actually get your stamp. I just bought my first silencer and while it took around 15 minutes to fill out the paperwork and pay up. It took 10 MONTHS to get my stamp. The background check and tax stamp isn’t that bad. The wait is insane.

  • Pantexan September 18, 2017, 5:35 pm

    How about the government requires a tax stamp or a permit to exercise each of your rights under the bill of rights?
    How about you need a permit issued by the government to prevent you from being searched without a warrant?
    How about you need a tax stamp to ensure you receive a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury?
    How about you need the government’s permission to exercise your freedom of speech, or freedom of the press, or freedom from a government sponsored religion?
    Why is the government so afraid of the second amendment that it requires you to have tax stamps, permits, approvals, or even denying you the ability to exercise your right?

    • John Decker September 21, 2017, 3:42 pm

      Why are these people telling the lie that anyone can buy a supressor (it’s NOT a silencer) without a background check? Buying a supressor requires the same background check necessary before buying a firearm. Either these people are extremely stupid, are ignorant of the law, or are deliberately lying to support their anti-gun agenda. I strongly believe they’re lying.

    • ejharb October 10, 2017, 10:51 am

      Why?
      A armed man is a difficult to chain.
      Because if he’s any good he will kill a bunch of your people before you kill him then what kinda slave he make?

  • Scotty Gunn September 17, 2017, 4:19 pm

    How about $100 (or better yet, $50.00) tax, fill out a 4473, do a NICS check, and good to go. If ATF really wants to keep registering them, then a separate form that gets mailed in to them. Do the same for short barrel rifles . Current system for suppressors and sbr’s is ridiculous. Full autos and destructive devices can stay the old slow way, just to satisfy them.

  • Leighton Cavendish September 17, 2017, 1:02 pm

    How about something of a compromise?
    Keep the fingerprint and photo requirement…but make it an INSTANT check like it is for the deadliest portion of the combination.
    And if you commit a crime with a silencer? Automatic 20 years first offense. 50 for the second.
    It makes it HARDER to conceal a weapon when a silencer is attached.
    With 3D printers it will be much easier to make these items in the future. Not that difficult now if people wish to do so.
    As for murders…knives are even quieter.
    Some people want to think James Bond or some other spy is around every corner…or some secret assassin.
    If thugs wanted silencers they would already have them. Legally or illegally…just like any other item.
    Let people buy what they want …even full auto weapons…just make their use in crimes rare by having SEVERE penalties for their usage in such acts.

  • Tad Wright September 17, 2017, 12:07 am

    So if I don’t pay $200 I am in violation of a federal law. But if I do pay $200 I’m not in violation of a federal law. Please tell me what other federal laws I can violate if I pay my $200. Could I rob a bank? Could I kidnap or take up human trafficking? Could I blackmail or extort someone? Speaking of extortion, something’s either right or it’s wrong, either illegal or it’s not, regardless of how much you pay the federal government to do it. But that’s just my perspective.

  • Robert Blankenship September 16, 2017, 2:52 pm

    \”Hearing protection\”? Ludicrous.

    • Tom Walls September 16, 2017, 11:49 pm

      “Ludicrous” ?
      What is ludicrous is the $5000 it cost me for hearing aids after years of shooting.

    • Jay September 17, 2017, 6:57 am

      How is protecting your hearing a ludicrous? Any criminal that wants to use a suppressor, now or in the past, has never been thwarted by some archaic law, that’s why they are criminals! How many have done so since this law was implemented? I could only dig up “1”. There is no evidence that where suppressors are legal that they are used in criminal acts, most suppressor crime is from the illegal use or making of one!
      Knives used in armed robbery are about three times more likely to be actually used to injure the victim than guns, they are silent unlike a suppressor!

  • Patrick McWilliams September 15, 2017, 5:14 pm

    As one commentator said, the tax is not designed to raise revenue, it’s designed to discourage people from attempting to own NFA items. The tax was set in 1934 to double the price of a Thompson Submachine Gun, a rare weapon, but used in a few very high-profile crimes. By the 1980’s, the $200 didn’t mean much to anyone who could afford a machinegun and its ammunition. So, the approval was made subject to local law enforcement approval, then the supply was cut off in 1986, leaving only a handful of registered weapons as transferable. This kept the ordinary citizen from getting into the exclusive club. Maybe someone can confirm this, but I believe that the paperwork, photographs, CLEO signature, etc are sent to an office in DC or wherever. There is one part-time agent assigned to the whole stack. Each day he makes a limited number of calls to the FBI NICS office and runs the same information that dealers run for background checks on a daily basis. When the “proceed” comes back, he sets them aside, then from time time affixes the tax stamp and returns it to the seller. It’s just a deliberate delay caused by intentional short staffing of the procedure. Americans, by and large, do not like to wait for something, and the wait is designed to discourage potential buyers now that the actual amount of the tax, due to inflation, is no longer as onerous as it was in 1934.

  • Glenn Martin September 15, 2017, 5:01 pm

    I have No problem with background checks to purchase a Suppressor for any of my firearms. What I Don’t Like
    is paying the Outrageous Amount to register a Suppressor. That’s A Sham!!!

    • Chris September 17, 2017, 6:49 am

      I hate waiting 8 – 12 months.

  • Mike Kummer September 15, 2017, 4:27 pm

    A firearm suppressor is the same basic technology as a engine muffler. They are easy to make or improvise from lawful products. The easiest, is using a empty plastic soda bottle or a lawnmower muffler. This whole discussion assumes a criminal that may use a gun anlawfully to commit a capitol one murder would follow the law concerning suppressor. If a serious criminal wants a suppressor, he simply bypasses all laws and regulations concerning suppressors and just does it. Even if and when this passes, the criminal will rather adapt a $8 law mower muffler for one time use, rather than buying from a gun shop where his trail can be possibly traced. Quality suppressor cost money and sometimes double the size of a handgun.

  • Athos3859 September 15, 2017, 1:31 pm

    I’ve never understood why Reed, Schumer and Pelosi continue to be re-elected. What are our NRA brothers doing in those districts?

    • Keith September 16, 2017, 12:10 am

      Those districts in which Reed, Schumer and Pelosi are in are loaded with people who gladly sell their liberty for free stuff and bread. They re-elect them over and over in these districts. They do not care at all about the 2nd Amendment.

  • Warren Boles September 15, 2017, 12:34 pm

    We have too many RINOs in the Senate. Do what you can to rid your State of such, and perhaps
    we can all help make AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

  • Capn Stefano September 15, 2017, 12:20 pm

    I tell you what scares me: That wild eyed KOOK Chipman was an ATF agent and probably still packs a gun. Let’s make the streets safer and disarm him, first

  • Jimmy Joe Meeker September 15, 2017, 11:41 am

    If you oppose suppressors for firearms you should at least be consistent and oppose mufflers for vehicles.

    • Jay September 16, 2017, 6:29 am

      Come on Jimmy, to be fair, let’s not forget the motorcycles mufflers too!

  • t22 September 15, 2017, 11:05 am

    As we learned the hard way during the attempt to repeal Obamcare, in doesn’t matter one bit what the House of Representatives does, it will die in the never pass anything Senate. With their self imposed 60 vote rule and Republican infighting, the Senate is absolutely useless.

    • Davud September 15, 2017, 12:14 pm

      not sure about the 60-vote rule – revenue-neutral ‘reconciliation’ bills only need 51, but i don’t know if this bill qualifies.

    • Capn Stefano September 15, 2017, 12:22 pm

      This will be a test of the resolve of Senate Rs.. do they have the guts to invoke the nuclear option for a simple majority vote? If not then it’s time to replace anyone who votes against it

  • Giggly Bits September 15, 2017, 10:56 am

    I’m sorry, but I do not want this bill to pass. I have spent a fortune over the last twenty years amassing a collection of suppressors. I have spent countless hours sitting in the police station waiting to get printed. I have driven countless times to Walgreens to get passport photos made. I have filled out a mountain of forms that are all essentially identical. I even bought a ride-along with the sheriff at a charity auction so I could convince him to be my go to LEO. I’m sorry, but I consider that sweat equity an investment and this bill will essentially erase that. You have to admit that there is an intrinsic intangible value that comes with the prestige of owning a really awesome suppressor. Yes, it is a selfish sentiment, but I wouldn’t have wasted my time and money in the first place if I knew that one day you could buy a can like you buy a can of coke.
    Oh, and if you have damaged your hearing while shooting firearms, that’s on you. It’s not my fault that you can’t figure out how earplugs work.

    • Chuck B September 15, 2017, 11:27 am

      I’m sorry this is a poor excuse not to pass this law, because you’ve spent your money and time ? sounds like a selfish kid to me.

      • Giggly Bits September 15, 2017, 1:22 pm

        Wow. The irony. Do you understand what you typed?

    • Alex September 15, 2017, 11:38 am

      Since you got screwed you want everybody to get screwed. That is really selfish of you. People like you are pathetic.

      • Giggly Bits September 15, 2017, 1:38 pm

        Well Alex. I have not been screwed yet, but passing this bill will be painful for me. Frankly, what I find pathetic is that you have no consideration for what I consider valuable. I would never look at someone’s possessions (even yours buddy) and proclaim them worthless and that I was entitled to those possessions at the EXPENSE of others. I would even feel compelled to protect the property of my fellow citizen. I guess you don’t feel that way.

        • effen_noob September 16, 2017, 5:30 am

          Except no one is taking your suppressors. What do you think the resale value of your cans is? They were an expense…not an investment. You’re never going to get your money back so stop lying to yourself.

    • Jimmy Joe Meeker September 15, 2017, 11:39 am

      I agree with you completely. You’re selfish.

    • Richard September 15, 2017, 11:45 am

      Hey butt I didn’t damage my hearing shooting, but rather flying helicopters in the Army so useless selfish people like you can make enough money to afford a room full of suppressors to be a big man. I know how to and did use all available hearing protection available at the time but my government (people like you) didn’t and still don’t care about my hearing. I want to own a suppressor or two and don’t have the financial resources to buy them, so I don’t care what a selfish butt like you thinks

    • Paul September 15, 2017, 12:15 pm

      Too bad about your “investment” but time marches on. If passed this bill would be of enormous value to the shooting public and the can builders by making them “mainstream”. I have 2 myself and would likely get some more but not with the paper maze nonsense and not with the ridiculous pricing. Demand would rise, prices would fall, and sales would sky rocket. I guarantee that many many people would be disappointed that their new can does not make their firearm “Hollywood” quiet. You are correct. Your reasons for wishing it’s failure are just selfish.

    • MonsoonMoon September 15, 2017, 12:19 pm

      What an pompous arsehole. Does elitism run in your family?

    • Capn Stefano September 15, 2017, 12:23 pm

      Our liberty is FAR more important than your “investment”. I’m glad the Founders weren’t so short sighted and selfish

      • Giggly Bits September 16, 2017, 12:03 pm

        Oh that doesn’t sound self-centered.
        Don’t forget – “Freedom ain’t free”

    • KEN September 15, 2017, 12:32 pm

      The cats and dogs on this website will never stop and get too the actual point. A suppressor is pointless if not using subsonic ammo. When you might get a 20 too at most a 50 decibel decrease it is still louder than a jet at takeoff or a rock concert. One has too know and understand that subsonic will change with barrel length at the rated ammo specs. It is easy too attack someone and their ideas or views, but the point still remains that criminals don’t play by the rules. Then you have the other side when some “dumbass” has too decide too do mass killing when they should save time and money and just shoot themselves. If Giggly Bits is not using sub ammo you have truly wasted your time and money. Best of luck too you Giggly! Don’t get me wrong I would rather have a sbr without taxing and paper work than a suppressor. I also like non muffler autos, it makes my sister mad cause my pick-up is loud. HAHAHAAA to her!!!! Go out and enjoy your range time and destroy some paper.

    • kb31416 September 15, 2017, 12:43 pm

      Mr. Giggly, you are a disgrace of the first order.
      One can not put a price on freedom, however, you appear to have.
      I’m glad that you have the limitless financial means to indulge your luxurious collection of suppressors, but for the rest of us peons, I suppose you suggest that we go f*** ourselves?
      You are simply not worthy of further comment. In fact, I’m almost sorry that I wasted these few minutes contemplating the detestable opinion of a turd like you.

      • Giggly Bits September 15, 2017, 1:20 pm

        Your narrow-minded hypocrisy is breath-taking. Even though you probably rent, let’s imagine that you own a $200k house in a nice neighborhood over in Dumbassville. What if I told you one day that I have decided that your house is now worth $50k and I am going to build a series of low-income subsidized apartment complexes along your fence which will likely further devalue your real estate? Be honest. How would you feel?

        • h8libs September 16, 2017, 10:35 am

          Giggly nuts – what you just described about housing happens daily! So it will be nice to see that you have wasted your money if this bill passes…..

        • Uncommon Sense September 16, 2017, 3:39 pm

          False equivalence. Just because you have behaved like an idiot should not require the rest of the world to continue to act like idiots.

    • Giggly Bits September 15, 2017, 12:58 pm

      Below you will read a series of entries pointing out my selfishness for wanting to protect the value of my large investment. What is so ironic and interesting is that I am chided and insulted for wanting to protect what is mine. Is that unreasonable? The recurring theme that you will notice can be paraphrased as “screw you prick. It’s time for me to get mine! To hell with you and your money – it’s my turn now.” Does that not strike you as self-centered? Nay I say selfish! I did the work. I paid all those taxes and now all that is on the verge of becoming meaningless and worthless? These guys posting below didn’t do shit, but now they “deserve” the right to own an unregulated suppressor? Sorry, just doesn’t pass the fairness test. You cut me a check for the thousands of dollars in tax stamps and I might accept my losses. Meanwhile, I’m on the phone with my senators talking about the silent murder of millions of inner-city innocents.

      • 1776 September 15, 2017, 3:24 pm

        I’m not sure why you think your time and energy will be worthless if this bill passes. Do you know part of this bill is retroactive and you can get some money back? Also your paperwork will no longer exist, I would think that is a win for you.

        If anything your time and energy helped build an industry and now we are on the verge of expanding Second Amendment rights for all Americans. Were you planning on selling your suppressors some day and that is your concern? If so this should make it easier, its not like you would have received the $200 for the tax stamp someone would need to purchase from you.

        The point of this is expanding the community which will protect the Second Amendment for all. I can understand your personal frustration but you made an decision with your money. People make investments all the time that do not work out but this is about liberty. Your comparison about houses is apples and oranges. We are talking about Liberty.

      • Uncommon Sense September 16, 2017, 3:44 pm

        You are a selfish moron. The passing of the HPA will have zero impact on the value of your collection. How many of them have you already sold? None, right? You had to jump through a bunch of stupid hoops, and now you demand that everyone else jump through the same stupid hoops, just to protect your fragile ego. You are a fucking idiot.

      • Christopher Todd September 16, 2017, 5:26 pm

        In the off chance that you are not trolling, why have you not considered selling your suppressors a few weeks after the bill passes and all the manufacturers are backlogged for a year? Given the high demand and low supply you could double your money, tax stamp money included by simply selling them.

        If your money is what you’re concerned about (which again, I don’t believe it is, I believe you’re trolling), you could sell your suppressors for double what you paid for them, each, once current supply runs dry. Then once supply catches back up you can just buy new ones over the counter.

      • Leighton Cavendish September 17, 2017, 1:19 pm

        You were/are a classic first adopter…but doing so is usually expensive. Thanks for paving the way.
        Sorry you may get the shaft, but it reads like you have plenty of money and could afford the hit.
        Many here still OK with prints and photo…even registration. It is the asinine waiting period.
        Bet plenty would also pay the tax stamps and huge prices, too.
        My problem is signing away my rights…allowing them to come check my property for that item any time they want to.
        OH…and why isn’t there an LEO exemption for NFA items? And why do they have to do a complete check for every item every single time…even when you already own NFA items?
        You made the choices to buy your items. You could have waited.
        If you are able to afford all those guns and cans…I will NOT feel sorry for you.
        Doubt you will find many on this forum that will.
        It’s only money dude…and you seem to have plenty of it. No sympathy.
        Guns and cans are not necessities.

      • Wizard September 17, 2017, 8:40 pm

        Hey Mr. Giggly, have you tried to sell one of your awesome suppressors?? Probably not, as nobody wants to do what you had to do because of the hassle. Most dealers won’t even consider them with your class 3 item as they are a waste of time for them. So your point is mute, you spent your time and money on a stock that is worthless and want to keep things same ole same cause you want to protect what? Get off your band wagon and keep on rolling along, what you have done in the past was for YOU, not an investment. Big time looser dude, go away and stay away, Paint a big “L” on your forehead it’s yours for your wasted time, this was going to happen sooner or later and you are crying foul cause your investment went in the tank. AMF !!

    • Travis September 15, 2017, 3:07 pm

      What a peice of shit you are I hope all your CANS and you all burn up in a house fire..now as for my hearing goes I lost alot of it while being a gunner I the military and yes when your at war your not worried about hearing protection…Now me being disabled veteran look at the pay we cannot afford the B.S tax stamp. But stay selfish and have a shitty life.

    • Mike September 15, 2017, 5:18 pm

      Entitled Milenial thinking strikes again. Your time, wealth and privilege as well as kissing your LEOs ass entitles you to be special.

      Poor excuse for a ‘man’.

    • Arthur Rebello Jr September 15, 2017, 6:07 pm

      Time to take a hit for the team !

    • Bob September 15, 2017, 9:09 pm

      Missery loves company eh?

    • effen_noob September 16, 2017, 5:03 am

      You’re being chided for wanting everyone to pay the price you paid without regard for Constitutional protections. As for your final statement. I want a can for my home defense pistol (330 blk) becuase I won’t time to stop and put in hearing protection before defending my family. Your investment will not have been wasted since you will still have your “amassed” collection. Suppressor ownership is not a prestige issue…except in your mind.

    • Jay September 16, 2017, 6:20 am

      Say Giggly bits, maybe you should try investing in the stock market instead of tools that you choose to buy! Do you cry when you buy a car and it’s value decreases with every passing day? Many others made the same investment but you don’t see them crying because they followed a law that should never have been written, might get corrected! Maybe you need to invest that money into getting our archaic laws repealed! Maybe your just a liberal troll poking around for a fight!

      • Giggly Bits September 16, 2017, 12:11 pm

        Noob, I know they are not taking my suppressors. The bill erases the value of the suppressors. To answer your question, I would hope the value of my suppressors would continue to be what I paid for them or more!

    • PoundCake September 16, 2017, 9:57 am

      It’s selfish arrogant pricks like this that would fight to fully repeal the NFA! Not because they thing it would be harmful to the community, but because they were stupid enough to pay $10k for a Lightning Link or $20k for a Drop in Auto Sear! $100k for a preban SMG!! I know more than a couple guys that have told me that they would do everything possible to fight any loosening of the NFA regulation because they don’t want to lose the “elitism” that comes from spending stupid money on full auto firearms! They are supposed to be part of the Gun Community yet would actively fight to suppress gun rights because they have spent too much money and enjoy being one of the few to be able to afford to own a preban firearm! Sadly, since they do have the money to throw around on the stupid prices that the guns command now, they have the money to spend lobbying their Congressmen!

    • Bill September 16, 2017, 10:31 am

      Id like to let you in on something that Im sure you are not aware of, you absolutely suck as a human being.
      That has to be the most selfish, elitist damned thing Ive ever heard anyone say. I give you credit for saying it but that doesnt change the fact that you are a very abhorent human being.
      You should really go back and read your statement and absorb how selfish it is

    • Topol September 17, 2017, 2:06 pm

      I do not for a minute believe that you are even familiar with the definition of the term investment.
      And if you want to bask in the prestige of a truly exclusive club, while actually investing in something, buy a machine gun.
      There you go, and since I own 32 of them, I might be persuaded to part with one, for fair market value of course.
      That, Giggly, is an investment.

  • James Rice September 15, 2017, 10:55 am

    ATF dogma from the get go.

  • Dan September 15, 2017, 10:37 am

    Democrats have enough trouble “hearing ” the truth. Maybe they should pass this bill just so they could hear the truth.

  • Lee September 15, 2017, 10:36 am

    Watching that video just again reminds me why I will never ever vote for a democrat…. They are the worst scum on the earth…

  • Charlie September 15, 2017, 10:19 am

    Owning a suppressor does not indicate that you are a criminal The Democrats will take away your hunting knife next. It is a silent weapon. How about golf clubs,baseball bats any sharp or blunt instrument! Stupid is just plain Stupid . The only ones being protected by their inferiority is themselves . They can’t believe that the people in this country can think and reason for themselves. Look at Polisi, some one in her family needs to have her get mental help,she is not the only one there are others. Those in the government that think they are protectors are only hindering our rights.
    .

  • thomasJefferson September 15, 2017, 9:51 am

    Bwahahahhahaha, I just love it when Libtards get their panties twisted in a knot. This just might send them over the edge permanently! I’ve got a great idea. Since the Libtards are so Pro-Commie, let’s round them all up and give them a one-way ticket to the Socialist/Communist Utopia of their choosing. N. Korea or Cuba perhaps? They won’t have to worry about any of those country’s citizens owning a gun or having any rights whatsoever. They should fit right in with the program.

    • KEN September 15, 2017, 12:41 pm

      Thomas, those are the type of countries that start wars. That would be great if the DEMS would go there. They would go too war empty handed and minded since they oppose guns. Great too know they are an oxymoron! By the way GUNS DO NOT KILL PEOPLE, LOW I.Q.s DO.

  • Alan September 15, 2017, 9:47 am

    John Feinblatt has become very wealthy riding the coattails of this emotional issue with his blatant lies soliciting that money.

  • Jay September 15, 2017, 9:09 am

    How many criminals are going to try and hide that long ass sound suppressor under their clothing and in their pocket? Hahaha!

  • Ted September 15, 2017, 7:28 am

    Does anybody know what the FOPA reforms are? It would be nice to know the particulars.

  • LEADFOOT September 15, 2017, 5:41 am

    NOW IF WE COULD JUST GET RECIPROCITY OUT OF COMMITTEE !
    WE HAVE OVER 200 COSPONSORS IN THE HOUSE AND I BELIEVE AND A BUNCH IN THE SENATE !
    WHY WILL THEY NOT BRING IT TO THE FLOOR ?

    • Uncommon Sense September 16, 2017, 3:45 pm

      See Paul Ryan

  • Dr. Strangelove September 15, 2017, 4:45 am

    Every good socialist knows that an armed populace is the biggest impediment to a totalitarian government.

    • TNThompson September 15, 2017, 9:18 am

      You are absolutely correct in your statement. The anti-constitutionalists and their highly paid lobbyist pitbulls in D.C. care nothing about “Public Safety”! They know full well that those who would use a suppressor to commit any violent act, are already Criminals and would have no problem making or acquiring them by other means, not the ordinary Law-Abiding citizens. This is all about disarming the American people. You can not fully control a populace that is armed. All dictators know this. These Socialists know that they con not simple pass a law confiscating all firearms all at once. so they chip away at our rights, little by little right before our eyes. Until we wake up one day and find that we no longer have any rights.

  • Pastor B Stevens September 15, 2017, 4:40 am

    I’ve waited for this to make to the hearings and I’m truly hoping it passes . Some people on the left farrrrrrr left believe a silencer makes a firearm silent . It does not I’ve yet to hear oneused that silences any firearm completely . The only round I was amazed was fairly quiet was a 22 long shot through one of the oil filter silencers . Still it was not silent it was still quite a puff of noise . I enjoy hunting wild hog and having a glock 10mm with a 6″ or longer lone wolf barrel comes in quite handy . A rifle is best of course but many instances a miss or clean through shot leaves one pissed off bore looking to take you out . Pigs are tough dangerous animals when wounded move quickly to take you out having that quick draw non long arm is a great way for fast firing at one charging you . Usury one shot with a long arm is all you get and reloading that long arm and aiming is to much time your gored to death . Having the 10mm firing it that much expulsion of gas really messes up my hearing even one shot rings my ears for a good 20 minutes leaving muted sound from others hunting with you . Silencers can be made in a way that cuts that gas expanding down by half still making a pretty good pop but not so much your ears are ringing . A 45/70 , 30/06 , 30/30 , 7mm mag all have one hell of a noise not as bad as having a short barrel side arm but can still ring your ears . I understand some thinking about people using silencers as additions for killing humans but that’s one long shot carrying a very long extended barrel being the extra 5+” addition to a hand gun . That’s paramount to carrying a long arm ya can’t hide that well at all . As for the bleeding heart liberal farrrrrr left most have never used a fire arm don’t understand them truly and are scared of firearms . They think like Hillary Clinton removing firearms will make America safe —- as we all know that’s BS if someone is hell bent on taking a life there are many many ways to do than without a firearm at all . Most murders are done with blades or blunt objects even vehicles as we see more of today in the media world wide . That argument is to me mute ! The cost of a silencer is as much as a fine side arm and if kept high very few will purchase them for common carry . Plus the very hard to hide part . Look at Chicago very tough gun laws and where are the highest murder by firearm yea Chicago Hillary and Obamas home city —- just stating the obvious . I don’t live in huge metropolitan city’s any longer by choice I don’t like huge city’s people don’t even speak to the neighbors next door in huge city’s . I’ve lived in them from Houston , Dallas. , LA and visited other bigger metro city’s you can have them all . The vast majority of silencer users will be for common hunting weapons although there are crackpot people wanting to impress or think they are impressing others with weapons they simply will never use other than a attempt to impress which I find ignorant . Let’s hope level headed people explain to the ignorant left farrrrr left how a silencer can be made to cull sound and yet still know it’s a firearm . I believe most watch to many movies if you get me . Let me say I always use farrrrr left because there are plenty of democrats that own fire arms and enjoy hunting as well as everyday protection . Don’t bundle all democrats in one pot . Let’s hope this passes because I’m very ready to protect my hearing while hunting .
    Pastor B Stevens —–Arkansas 😉🤠

    • KEN September 15, 2017, 12:47 pm

      WOW! Arkansas a Clinton starting ground. Glad your a Republican or so it sounds. I like my g40 also. I put a 6.6 inch threaded barrel on mine with a comp. Shoots great! For your info I did get it from Lone Wolf.

  • Gourdhead September 15, 2017, 4:40 am

    I like it. The Demonrats pull out a jack booted thug, former ATF enforcer for testimony about what might happen in the hood.

    • Pastor B Stevens September 15, 2017, 1:00 pm

      Perhaps he might want to stay out of the hood like he hangs out there lol,, most likely lives in a gated community 🤔

  • Greg September 15, 2017, 4:01 am

    In Europe suppressor are not only legal, but encouraged as a safety and courtesy to one’s neighbor. As they should be here. Hell, they should be subsidized for the good of public health.

    • David Donley September 15, 2017, 9:52 am

      You know that could go the wrong way: ObamaPhones v TrumpSuppressors
      Just sayin’

  • davis September 15, 2017, 3:09 am

    I do believe though that the 200.00 tax still should be levied to pay for government background checks which are still required by law,.

    • davis September 15, 2017, 3:11 am

      Note the ATF is now instituting a more investigator friendly computerized system instead of the antiquated one they now use!

    • Justin Bradburn September 15, 2017, 6:36 am

      I believe you need to shut up

    • Lon September 15, 2017, 7:34 am

      Maybe you’d like to pay a $200 tax every time you renew your drivers license? Or file your taxes? Here’s an idea, lobby to have background checks waived for concealed carry permit holders? I’m a holder and I had 6 background checks already this year. Waste of $$.

      • MonsoonMoon September 15, 2017, 12:23 pm

        Lon, elitism is still elitism. You start down a good path of arguing against the tax because of its ridiculousness, but then go on to brag about your state tax permission slip to carry! Don’t reduce, reform! Too many gun owners segregate themselves into those arrogant thought bunkers.

    • Kris mack September 15, 2017, 7:55 am

      I believe you should pay 200 for exercising your 1st admendment right on here.

    • Michael Keim September 15, 2017, 8:50 am

      Be quiet and continue to worship Hillary.

    • Bob Wingard September 15, 2017, 11:38 am

      The current $200 fee is NOT for the background check … it is a TAX to defer people from applying … a standard NIC background check is still $10.

    • John Decker September 21, 2017, 4:05 pm

      Would you be happy paying $200 every time you post a comment?

  • davis September 15, 2017, 3:07 am

    Horseshit- so many misinformed politicians.
    I have high tone hearing loss from sporting and military gunfire. Supressors would have helped retain my hearing.
    Note: criminals (as those in my local prison system) have agreed on one thing- The laws do not pertain to them!
    In my personal tests no one in 1500 inquiries could tell the difference between any other sharp noise ( like firecrackers or a ballon burst) from gunfire. There are so many calibers and the sounds they make, it is not relevant to put them all in one pot.
    No one wears protective hearing devices 100% of the time. People are shot all the time and most are never heard!

    • William September 15, 2017, 9:42 am

      If you have damaged hearing, then you should have worn EAR PROTECTION, since we all know suppressors are expensive to own. I’m all for owning a suppressor without the ridiculous bureaucracy, but you can’t blame your hearing loss on not having a suppressor when you could have very well worn ear pro. That was just a bad call on your part.
      Use reasonable, logical arguments to make your point. Otherwise people aren’t going to listen to those of us who really only want a suppressor for range fun, hunting, and of course hearing protection.

      • Mike September 15, 2017, 11:29 am

        William, have you ever been in combat? When in combat, the last thing you want to do is restrict your ability to hear or see. Hearing protection is great for the range but not for combat. I am a firm believer in using protection on the range, both hearing and vision. Just don’t even try to suggest that a combat soldier should plug his ears when going into combat. I have hearing loss but mine comes from engine room noise on ships. Maybe you think I should have used muffs, but I can tell you that my ears told me more about what was going on in the engine room then the gages did. If a piece of machinery stopped or started I was instantly aware of it, even if I was not standing looking at a gage or telltale light. The same was true if a steam valve started to leak. There is a place for in our world for suppressors and the range is one of them.

      • MonsoonMoon September 15, 2017, 12:24 pm

        Does your mother know you’re a prick?

  • SuperG September 14, 2017, 10:59 am

    Of course the hood-rats could use suppressors, and it is a simple to accomplish, but it takes away the ability to conceal your weapon, as even the the smallest silencer adds 5″ to the overall length. But when you are a sociopath, you don;t care if you get caught or not anyway. I’m glad it passed committee. Maybe laws For the people will ensue.

  • woodchuckwacker666 September 14, 2017, 9:28 am

    … I think that Democrats are the bane of every person who has lost some of their hearing over the years from shooting firearms as a civilian or military member, perhaps they should be sued for the cost of corrective hearing aids since they always work for the betterment of American citizens…???

    • Joe September 24, 2017, 6:47 pm

      wacker666, There are plenty of Democrats that own guns and it is ignorant to think otherwise. Democrats shoot, hunt and plink just like anybody else. I have been a gun owner for many decades and never joined the NRA because their leadership has evolved the association into a right wing strong arm for the gun manufacturing industry. Simply put, it used to be for the gun owners. ie. The automobile club supports and provides much for the members. (road service, insurance, car registration, maps, etc.) The NRA takes it member’s money as well as $$$ from the gun companies to lobby for them with very little benefit to the gun owners. The NRA publically gives shooters a bad image because the current leaders are belligerent and not very diplomatic when they deal with legal negotiations in DC. That makes non-shooters think that all gun owners are assholes. Gun ownership debate is less Republican vs. Democrats than Rural vs. Urban.

  • Ton E September 13, 2017, 9:40 pm

    How cute the writer believes the GOP and Trump are progun.

    • Greg September 15, 2017, 4:03 am

      And you think pelosi is?? Duh. Look at the very pro gun actions in his term so far and his very pro gun agenda. Yes, actions and words clearly show the most pro gun administration in decades.

      • MonsoonMoon September 15, 2017, 12:25 pm

        Classic false dichotomy retort. Person A asserts statement, and Person B loses their s**t and declares Person A said something that they did not say.

    • Mike D September 15, 2017, 5:15 am

      How cute. Ton E believes the GOP and Trump to be anti-gun! We’re you talking to Swillary and the jacka@@as again?

      • MonsoonMoon September 15, 2017, 12:27 pm

        When the f**k did Ton E say those groups were anti-gun? You gotta quit thinking in halves and assuming people say and think things they didn’t express.

    • Justin Bradburn September 15, 2017, 6:37 am

      Trump and the GOP are pro gun

      • MonsoonMoon September 15, 2017, 12:28 pm

        Not by the record, they aren’t. At best it’s been blind neutrality, at worst it’s been purposeful sales of our rights down the river in a very slow fashion.

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