Articles Posted in Suppressors / Silencers

In Maryland, a U.S. District Judge sentenced Ronnie Candelario to 41 months in prison for pleadings guilty to the possession of an unregistered fuel filter silencer.  Following his release from prison, the Court sentenced Candelario to three years of supervised release.

Many readers might be wondering what exactly a fuel filter silencer is, I have included a video that shows how it works.  By now many have heard or read about the different types of “do it yourself” suppressors.  Gun owners have learned ways to make oil filter and flashlights suppress firearm noise.  The latest trend is to use fuel filters now.  One company has sold these products on Amazon, and the company even sells the filters as AR-15 suppressors.
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An Iowa Gun Trust has many benefits including multiple authorized users, contact us to receive information on the many benefits of owning suppressors with an Iowa Gun Trust or Multi Generational Asset Protection Gun Trust.  Gun Trusts are for all firearms, not just NFA firearms like suppressors or silencers.

Iowa Gun Trust Lawyers and the ASA would like to congratulate Iowa on becoming the newest state to legalize suppressor ownership and use. Around 3 PM today, March 31, 2016, Suppressors (Silencers) will be legal in purchase, own, and use in Iowa.

Governor Branstad has announced that he will sign House File 2279, also known as the Hearing Protection Act, into law on Thursday, March 31st at 3PM. The new law will become “effective upon enactment”, meaning that Iowans will be able to possess and use suppressors as soon as he signs the bill into law.

Washington NFA Class 3 firearms
There are several type of Title II firearms (those sold by Class 3 SOT FFLs)  that are restricted by the National Firearms Act.

Each state can impose additional restrictions on the sale, purchase, and transfer of Title II or NFA firearms.  These laws or restrictions are in addition to the compliance that is required with the National Firearms Act.

In Washington you can own the following items that are regulated the National Firearms Act:

Many individuals have purchased thread adapters to permit the use of an oil filter as a “solvent trap”.  The problem is that this adapter can also be used and is often intended to be used to create a suppressor.   The resellers on ebay who sold these adapters have all seemed to have disappeared and many of their customers are reporting being contacted by local ATF agents to collect the parts they purchased.

Recently we have had several clients contact us about purchasing these “solvent trap parts” and using them to make a Suppressor with a Form 1.  Apparently there is someone marketing these parts including baffles as a solvent trap to be used for gun cleaning.  It would not surprise me, if ATF shut down the ability of companies to sell parts as cleaning kits or solvent traps and then began targeting the customers of these parts in much the same way as the ATF continues to contact the customers of the companies who previously sold them eBay.

ATF has taken the position, in the past, that a part to a suppressor is a suppressor and under this theory, if you purchase these parts, the parts may in and of themselves be considered suppressors.  Paying the tax stamp on a Form 1 does give you the permission to manufacture a suppressor, but not necessary to purchase a suppressor manufactured by someone else.  We would caution clients who are considering manufacturing their own suppressors from parts that ATF considers a suppressor as the purchase of these parts may require an approved Form 4.

On March 23rd, Ohio repealed the prohibition on the use of legally possessed suppressors while hunting.  Ohio has become the 35th state to permit hunters to use legally possessed suppressors while hunting.  IN 2014 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana all enacted legislation to permit the use of suppressors while hunting.  Ohio also enacted Shall Sign legislation.

Among the many benefits, to using suppressors are:

  1. HEARING PROTECTION: Noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus are two of the most common afflictions for recreational shooters and hunters. Everyone knows that gunfire is loud, but very few people understand the repercussions that shooting can have on their hearing until it’s too late. Suppressors reduce the noise of a gunshot by an average of 20 – 35 dB, which is roughly the same as earplugs or earmuffs. By decreasing the overall sound signature, suppressors help to preserve the hearing of recreational shooters, hunters, and hunting dogs around the world.

In 90 days, it will be legal to hunt with Suppressors in Ohio. On Friday, December 19th Gov. John Kasich signed a massive overhaul of Ohio’s Gun Law including removing the restriction for hunting with a suppressor (sometimes called a silencer). This follows the recent legalization of hunting with Suppressors in Florida. A vast majority of states now permits hunting with suppressors.

Also signed was legislation to require CLEOs to sign Form 4s and Form 1s.

The “shall certify” provision which requires a chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) to sign off on an application to transfer an item regulated by the National Firearms Act, once the application procedure and requirements are met. This provision eliminates personal bias towards NFA-related items, requiring CLEOs to sign off and process the application in the same way they do a concealed handgun license.

While many feel shall certify legislation is a good thing, the risk is that people will purchase items as an individual and not use a Gun Trust from a Gun Trust Lawyer®. There are many advantages to purchasing NFA firearms using a Gun Trust, including the ability to protect innocent spouses and others from charges of constructive possession or illegal transfers under the NFA. There are many advantages to using a Gun Trust over individual ownership. For a list of these advantages, request our free report on what is a Gun Trust and Why you should have one by completing the form on this page for more information.

Unlike most states which have changed the laws, In Florida you can hunt with Suppressors starting today.

This morning the following announcement was sent out by Marion Hammer the Executive Director of the SSF and past president of the NRA

DATE: November 21, 2014 TO: USF & NRA Member and Friends FROM: Marion P. Hammer USF Executive Director

On Friday May 3rd, Alabama voted unanimously to repeal the prohibition of the possession and use of suppressors or silencers while hunting for all game and non-game animals. As of Friday, May 3rd, 2014, it became legal to possess and use a suppressor while hunting.

The majority of states now allow hunting with a suppressor. Alabama will be the 32nd and on July 1st Georgia will become the 33nd.

It shall be unlawful to possess fully automatic firearms or silenced firearms while hunting any species of wildlife.

Michigan NFA Class 3 firearms

There are several type of Title II firearms which are sold by Class 3 SOT dealers that are restricted by the National Firearms Act.

Each state can impose additional restrictions on the sale, purchase, and transfer of Title II firearms in addition to the compliance that is required with the National Firearms Act.

In Michigan you can own the following Title II Firearms that are regulated the the National Firearms Act:

Machine Guns
Suppressors
Any Other Weapon (AOW) (only some)
Destructive Devices (DD)
Short Barreled Shotguns (SBS)  (See Below but Legal as of 3/28/14)
Short Barreled Rifles (SBR)  (See Below but Legal as of 3/28/14)

In Michigan you cannot own the following NFA restricted items.

 some AOW’s like Tasers or Stun Guns by private citizens whether or not they are class 3 items or the individual has a CCW permit

The Michigan State Police put together a legal update on SBR and SBS which describes the differences between those over 26 inches and those under 26 inches.
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There are several states which are working on changes to firearms laws at the current time.

Alabama is in the process of legalizing hunting with suppressors Georgia is in the process of legalizing hunting with suppressors Iowa is in the process of legalizing suppressors Washington State has both a house bill and senate bill legalizing the use of Short Barrel Riffles.

These new legislative initiatives should greatly increase the sales of suppressors and SBRs in the above states. If you are looking for a Gun Trust to create purchase, manage, and own NFA firearms contact us to find out more about a Gun Trust Lawyer® in your area and the benefits to using a real gun trust.

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