Suppressing Suppressor Myths

by
posted on February 10, 2012
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
bs_2015_fs.jpg (1)

Suppressors, commonly but less accurately called silencers or “cans,” have been commercially available since 1908. Unfortunately for freedom-and hearing-cherishing Americans, they have been demonized by the anti-gun media largely due to their portrayal as “assassin tools” in Hollywood movies. In reality, however, suppressors are common in other countries because of the vast benefits they offer shooters and hunters. Here are few common myths about suppressors.

The Expert Deferral: (The following information courtesy Silencerco.

1. Myth: Suppressors have no good purpose.
False:
Suppressors offer:
-Increased accuracy for hunters and target shooters because they minimize flinching before the shot. When shooting an unsuppressed gun the nervous system prepares for a startling bang, which often results in flinching and poor accuracy.) For more on this see Shooting Illustrated’s article entitled “The Truth about Silencers.”

-Hearing Protection: According to the Center for Hearing and Communication, 18 million Americans suffer from hearing loss.Fifty million suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears.) In fact, disability payments to combat veterans will soon reach 1.1 billion annually. If suppressors were more prevalent these figures could be reduced.

-Benefits to Hunters: Hunters often have to choose between hearing game and protecting their hearing. By using a suppressor, they can do both.

-Personal Protection Safety: Defensive gunshots in the closed confines of a home or car can leave permanent damage to the shooter’s ears. Using a suppressed firearm in a defensive situation can mean that only the criminal is injured.

-Better neighbor relations: Suppressors reduce noise complaints where people live in close proximity to target ranges, hunting or plinking.

2. Myth: Suppressors are illegal.
False:
Suppressors are legal in 39 states, and NRA-ILA isaggressively promoting pro-suppressorlegislation.Recent initiatives in Indiana, Arizona, Texas and Georgia have passed or are pending.

3. Myth: Suppressors are often used in crimes.
False:
Legally obtained suppressors are rarely used in crimes.

4. Myth: Suppressors make standard loads absolutely silent.
False:
Suppressors only work to lesson the blast of rapidly escaping gasses at the muzzle; downrange, any bullet that reaches hypersonic speeds still makes a loud “crack” as it breaks the sound barrier, but this noise is usually far enough away from the shooter to mitigate hearing damage compared to an unsuppressed bullet.

5. Myth: Suppressors are impossible to obtain.
False:
Any law-abiding citizen, 21 years of age or over, who lives in a state where ownership is legal, meets state criteria and pays a $200 one-time tax stamp fee can obtain a suppressor. However, the process can take up to 6 months due to backlog and slow processing by the federal government.

Hushed Facts:
*Hiram P. Maxim invented the first commercially available suppressor in 1908.
*Civilians purchase over 27,000 suppressors per year.
*A one-time tax stamp for suppressor purchase costs $200, the same as it did in 1934 when the law was made.
*In 2010 three large suppressor companies, including Advanced Armament Corp., GemTech and Silencerco teamed together to create the American Silencer Association (ASA) to educate the public about the benefits of suppressors.
*85 percent of Americans believe suppressors are illegal.

Go to silencersarelegal.com for more information, and exercise your rights: Buy a suppressor.

Latest

Pennsylvania Game Commissionlede
Pennsylvania Game Commissionlede

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

New for 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke in 450 Bushmaster

Christensen Arms has announced the release of the Evoke rifle chambered in powerful 450 Bushmaster.

Oklahoma Wildlife Commission Passes Rules for Nonresident Hunters, Public Hunting Lands

New emergency rules and resolutions for public hunting lands were approved last month by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission.

First Look: Premium and Premium Deluxe Die Sets From Redding Reloading Equipment

Redding Reloading Equipment has expanded its Premium Die Set and Premium Deluxe Die Set product lines, including over seventy of the most popular cartridges in the industry today.

Junior Hunter Gear: Get Your Kids Into the Field

Looking for ways to get your fields out from behind the screens and into the great outdoors this summer? Check out these great pieces of outdoor kit to help spur the process.

Stealth Cam Adds On-Demand Livestream

Shortly after teasing the launch of its new trail camera functionality at the 2025 SHOT Show, Stealth Cam has announced that On Demand Live Stream is available via the Command Pro app.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.