OLYMPIA – Soon hunters and sportsmen and women will be allowed to have firearm noise suppressors and use them too, all thanks to a measure that passed the Senate yesterday on a unanimous vote.
Under current Washington law a person can own a noise suppressor but it is “a gross misdemeanor crime for a person to use any device or contrivance for suppressing the noise of any firearm.”
“That’s like saying it is ok to buy a TV set but it’s illegal to turn it on,” said Rep. Brian Blake, who sponsored House Bill 1016. “My bill simply brings coherence to the statute by making it legal to use suppressors that are duly registered in accordance with federal law.”
Under federal law, the National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates firearms and silencers, which must be registered in a database maintained by the NFA Branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. To purchase a silencer, a person has to get a certification from the local chief law enforcement officer, undergo a background check, obtain prior approval for the transfer, and pay a $200 tax on the transaction.
“It is not easy or cheap to get a noise suppressor, but they’re worth the hassle and the cost because, among other things, they can really help reduce the risk of hearing loss,” said the Aberdeen Democrat, who is a hunter and wears a hearing aid.
Allowing the use of firearm noise suppressors will also benefit communities surrounding shooting ranges and hunting areas.
Blake said that his bill is good news for law enforcement officers who currently can’t carry out diverse firearms training because of the noise issue and restrictions on the time of day they can shoot. The lawmaker also pointed out that officers will be a lot safer when they enter methamphetamine lab situations if they can use suppressors.