Posted on 07/11/2012 10:13:54 AM PDT by marktwain
Anyone who has known me for more than five minutes knows my displeasure at the current state of affairs at the ATF, and specifically the wait times for NFA (National Firearms Act) paperwork to be processed. Seven months for a single form to be processed is honestly too much, and the American Silencer Association agrees. They met with the ATF NFA branch and members of congress recently to discuss the current issues and try to speed up the process, and hearing them talk about what’s going on behind the scenes (as well as seeing the STACKS of NFA forms in their hallways) was very enlightening and enjoyable. Here are the cliff notes…
The ATF’s NFA branch is beta testing an electronic system for some of their NFA forms. Silencer supremo Kevin Brittingham (formerly of AAC fame) has frequently recommended e-filing to limit the length of time needed for an ATF OK to transfer a silencer from one KNOWN, LICENSED DEALER to another. Thankfully, the ATF now agrees; they’re working towards implementing office management systems circa the late 20th century.
The big news: the ATF NFA branch is pushing for the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) sign-off to go the way of the dinosaur.
The CLEO sign-off is used in many places to enact a de facto ban on NFA ownership. If the CLEO doesn’t sign off on your form you can’t get a silencer. Or machine gun. Or anything fun.
It’s doubtful if we’ll see this come to fruition given the politics involved, but it’s a glimmer of hope and an acknowledgement that the people at the NFA branch really do understand and want to make things better for law abiding citizens. [ED: in theory.]
The American Silencer Association are newbs (founded last year). They’re a promising group of individuals who understand what they need to do to get the job done. Watch this space.
Oh dear! These silencer threads bring out certain freepers who display an astonishing level of ignorance, delivered with ultimate confidence.
May those who post technical or legal assertions please advise whether they have ever actually owned or used a “silencer.”
Good deal......
Good deal......
Can’t have them here in the People’s Republic of MN.
even with Miss CLEO’s signature.
/johnny
The fact that most Americans don't know: suppressors are legal in (most of?) Europe, and are actually encouraged. It's not about crime, it's about being a good neighbor. Firearms with suppressors can be repeatedly fired at a range without disturbing everyone within a 1/2 mile.
A suppressor doesn't make a firearm "silent". But, it lowers the size and intensity of the sound footprint to reduce it from an annoyance to background noise.
I believe that suppressors were added to NFA '34 to simply load it up with "evil" things and make it more palatable to Senators and Representatives that should have known better than to vote for it.
An excellent idea. We simply do not have the societal will just yet. I believe that we have what it takes to repeal the suppressor parts. We might even do away with the "short rifle/short shotgun" prohibitions, which make absolutely no sense, especially after the Heller decision affirmed the right to own loaded handguns in the home.
The only reason to restrict short rifles and shotguns, is to restrict access to concealable firearms. Now that concealable firearms are recognized as Constitutionally protected, the law is absurd.
Good points.
And machine guns are the most closely related to the “militia” and thus the last type of arm to be restricted.
I thought the American Silencer Association was that group Obama hired to patrol the internet for ‘wrong speak’.
I think we have the societal will but that rarely relates to congress in any meaningful way. Perhaps it will happen one day if we don’t fall to socialism.
What you see and hear in the movies is NOT REAL.
I think we need to establish the terminology better.
SILENCER: Device which reduces the sound of any weapon to the sound given off by a .22 hand pump pellet gun.
SUPPRESSOR: Device which keeps the bullet from actually leaving the end of the barrel, should you point it in some unsafe direction, such as at your wife. (this device eliminates the need for the following, which is the only reason it is controversial)
SAFETY: Obnoxious and unnecessary device which just slows down your ‘quickdraw’ shot, and is mainly used by people who have to check to see if their gun is loaded or not before playing with it. Same people who usually get stupid things like a license, and take lessons. Complete waste of time.
Recommendation: File it off so it won’t get in the way of your ‘grip’.
I say dump the NFA in its entirety. But what do I know, I’m from New York.
My $75 Nevada incorporation has been one of the best bargains to ever come my way. *details*
I can’t argue with your assessment. I’ve seen some real left field foul ball comments on sound suppressors here and on other firearms sites.
Oh, and not only have I owned and used them, I build them.
On the CLEO signoff. It’s a dead duck. That will be eliminated very soon. The ATF couldn’t find a way to prohibit trusts so they are doing away with the CLEO signoff. It’s pretty much a done deal and they are just going through the motions now.
I’ve got an AWC .22 that is so quiet all you hear is the bolt reciprocating, and I’ve got another AWC wet .45 suppressor with bolt lock that is no louder than a finger snap.
Of course the ammo has to be sub-sonic.
Ed
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