Texas P&W Commission Opens Public Comment Period for Allowing Suppressor Use While Hunting

NRA ^

[mnehring]

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Opens Public Comment Period for Allowing Suppressor Use While Hunting

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC) is seeking public comment on a proposed rule change allowing the use of suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for the hunting of game species. Currently, Texas law permits the use of lawfully-possessed suppressors for all other shooting activities, including the taking of nuisance species. Enactment of this rule change would ensure that hunting is treated the same way as other shooting activities with respect to the use of suppressors, and allow all hunters to reap the many benefits suppressor use provides.

There is an incredible amount of misinformation on what suppressors do and how they may be acquired. Suppressors are not "silencers," as depicted in typical Hollywood action film. While suppressors do not eliminate the sound of a firearm, they do reduce the muzzle report in a manner similar to the way that a muffler reduces exhaust noise from a vehicle. The benefits associated with suppressor use include increased accuracy due to reduced recoil and muzzle blast, protection from hearing damage and reduced noise pollution.

According to the information accompanying the release of the proposed state rules, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has determined that “there is no resource- or enforcement-related reason to prohibit the use of firearm silencers for the take of alligators, game animals or game birds, and therefore proposes to eliminate the current prohibition.”

In order to acquire a suppressor, a purchaser must submit the appropriate paperwork to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives where long wait times for approval are unfortunately common (four to six months), undergo a background check by the FBI, find a licensed dealer authorized to conduct the transaction and pay a one-time $200 tax for each device.

More than half of the states allow the use of suppressors for hunting without reporting any problems with increased incidents of poaching or other criminal activity. Noise complaints are being used more frequently as an excuse to close shooting ranges, informal shooting areas, and hunting lands throughout the country. Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate many of these complaints and protect hunting and shooting areas well into the future. For more information on firearm suppressors, click here.

This proposal is currently available for review on TPWC’s website, and is located in the last two paragraphs on the website. Comments on the proposed rules may be submitted at upcoming public meetings to be scheduled around the state, or to Robert Macdonald (contact information below). Please comment on this important change because allowing the use of suppressors would have a very positive impact on hunting in the Lone Star state. A final decision of this proposed rule will be made by TPWC at its March 28-29 public hearing.

To comment on the proposed rules, please click here (under Lawful Means).

In the alternative you may contact:

Robert Macdonald Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 (512) 389-4775 robert.macdonald@tpwd.state.tx.us

[hadaclueonce]

OK

$ for the Fed tax. $ for the suppresor.

Bullets can only go less than 1100 FPS.

Not a big deal.

[theBuckwheat]

For hunters like myself who suffer from tinnitus, a suppressor would be substantial benefit.

[SaxxonWoods]

I was thinking the same thing. Suppressors cut the sound about in half? That would be nice for saving the ears. Try taking Chromium for the tinnitus.

[TexasRedeye]

We potential users need to lobby our “friendly” organizations such as NRA, GOA, TSRA, and others to get this stupid Class III designation removed. The Feds get $200.00 per device for rubber stamping the LEO approval required and the few manufacturer’s get $600.00 to $1200.00 per device because of their restrictions and limited manufacturing costs. If suppressors were legally ruled as nothing more than a piece of metal with no restrictions, the costs would come down to $100.00 or so each and availability would be increased.

[ctdonath2]

I figure it’s a psychological response to the high tax: if you’re going to shell out $200 just in tax on something, you won’t feel comfortable unless the price tag is at least 4x the tax.

[TexasRedeye]

I don’t blame the few manufacturer’s for the unreasonable costs at all. With their Federally mandated fees, Federally mandated record keeping, limited but expensive tooling, labor costs and minimum manufacturing, these costs are justifiable. If restrictions were removed, modern, high capacity manufacturing processes and minimal “hands-on” processes would be developed by many manufacturers and the costs would drop dramatically just as they have for all other firearm accessories - rails, ‘scopes, lights, lasers, magazines, etc.

[ctdonath2]

It's also that the $200 tax is on what would normally be a disposable product. Car mufflers are replaced on a regular basis and built for inexpensive replacement; imagine how much they would cost if, due to a 4x overhead cost, customers wanted indestructible mufflers? In Europe, where civilized people pursue quiet out of courtesy to others, suppressors run something like $10-50; people are apt to buy extras & replacements like we'd buy earmuffs. Here, they start at $500 and fast run upwards of $1000 (or much more for big bores); we buy them with caution, study, and trepidation hoping the device, subject to extreme use and prolific residue, will last forever.