Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News Second Amendment

ATF Associate Deputy Director: Time To Reconsider Regulations On Suppressors, “Assault Weapons”

Friday, February 10, 2017

ATF Associate Deputy Director: Time To Reconsider Regulations On Suppressors, “Assault Weapons”

A recently published “white paper” from ATF Associate Deputy Director Ronald Turk suggests National Firearms Act (NFA) regulation of suppressors is “archaic” and import bans on “assault weapons” no longer make sense.

Turk also uses the paper to make the case for removing barriers to the import of M1 Garands, military-issued 1911s and other guns that are currently being held overseas for importation approval.

The “white paper”—published by The Washington Post—said: 

In the past several years, opinions about silencers have changed across the United States. Their use to reduce noise at shooting ranges and applications within the sporting and hunting industry are now well recognized. At present, 42 states generally allow silencers to be used for sporting purposes. The wide acceptance of silencers and corresponding changes in state laws have created substantial demand across the country. This surge in demand has caused ATF to have a significant backlog on silencer applications. ATF’s processing time is now approximately eight months.

Note Turk’s key points: 1. Views on suppressors have changed in recent years. 2. The use of suppressors for hunting and shooting sports is expanding. 3. Suppressors are legal in 42 states. 4. The desire for suppressors is causing a “significant” backlog at the ATF because of ongoing NFA regulation.

It is hard to imagine better arguments for the passage of the Hearing Protection Act, which was introduced last month by Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., and Rep. John Carter, R-Texas.

Breitbart News reported that the Hearing Protection Act would remove suppressors from NFA regulatory purview, thereby lessening the purchasing burden on law-abiding citizens while simultaneously reducing the workload of the ATF. By removing the registration and federal tax stamp requirements—as well as fingerprinting and photograph rules—the Hearing Protection Act would cut acquisition time from eight months to a few minutes, making the process of buying a suppressor identical to the process of buying a firearm at retail.

Turk also addressed AR-15s and AK-style rifles. He explained that the moniker of “assault weapons” has given way to “modern sporting rifles,” as the use and popularity of these firearms has grown. In fact, Turk noted that their use in “sport shooting” has grown “exponentially” and such guns “are now standard for hunting activities.” This, no doubt, comes as a shock to the myriad leftists who often argue against such guns being apropos for hunting applications.

For example, on June 12, 2016—the day of the firearm-based attack on the gun-free Orlando Pulse nightclub—Slate criticized the NRA’s focus on hunting with AR-15s, saying, “It’s odd to cite hunting and home defense as reasons to keep selling a rifle that’s not particularly well suited, and definitely not necessary, for either.”

Think about it: Slate says AR-15s are not “well suited” for hunting and intimates that the NRA is “odd” for suggesting otherwise. But the associate deputy director of the ATF says the use of AR-style rifles for hunting is so commonplace they are now “standard for hunting activities.”

Turk also addresses M1 Garands, military-issued 1911s and the like, explaining that “these items do not represent any discernable public safety concern.”

He points out that the demand for such weapons “lies with collectors of vintage military firearms” and that the process of importing them requires “licensed dealers,” which means “the lawful transfer of these firearms [would occur] through a licensee and a background check.”

Moreover, Turk explained that changing policy for importing M1s and military-issued 1911s would not be difficult:

Joint effort from the administration, State Department, and ATF could easily reverse past decisions and allow for the safe and legal importation and sale of these historical and collectible items. Many M1 Garand rifles have been approved for importation in the past, setting precedence for this to occur. The more recent denials were in part due to perceived potential that they may be used in crimes, for which there is little, if any, evidence for such a concern.

In sum, Turk’s letter displays a new favorability toward reducing regulation on suppressors and reworking importation rules governing “modern sporting rifles” and World War II era military weapons. Such reductions would be good for law-abiding citizens and law enforcement alike; easing the acquisition requirements for the former while lessening the workload of the latter.

BY AWR Hawkins

AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of Bullets with AWR Hawkins, a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter @AWRHawkins, or reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.

TRENDING NOW
Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Turned FOID Bill Removed from Hearing Schedule

Monday, February 24, 2025

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Turned FOID Bill Removed from Hearing Schedule

Today, Senate Bill 25-003, the near all-encompassing semi-automatic ban turned permit-to-purchase scheme, was removed from the hearing scheduled in the House Judiciary on March 4th.

NRA Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order Protecting Second Amendment Rights

News  

Second Amendment  

Friday, February 7, 2025

NRA Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order Protecting Second Amendment Rights

Today, the White House announced a new Executive Order to protect and expand the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. This is the first action taken by President Donald J. Trump to carry through ...

Court Dismisses “Lawfare” Claims Against Maryland Gun Dealers

News  

Monday, February 24, 2025

Court Dismisses “Lawfare” Claims Against Maryland Gun Dealers

“Lawfare” is the misuse of the legal system to damage political or business opponents, either through frivolous lawsuits in which the cost of defending becomes too much to bear or through the pursuit of political ...

Tenth Circuit Sidesteps Bruen with Nonviolent Felon Ruling

News  

Monday, February 24, 2025

Tenth Circuit Sidesteps Bruen with Nonviolent Felon Ruling

As NRA-ILA pointed out last week, the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022) has prompted a long-overdue reappraisal of the federal law as it pertains ...

Hogg Roasted Over Using DNC Resources to Raise Funds for His Own Project (and Employer)

News  

Monday, February 24, 2025

Hogg Roasted Over Using DNC Resources to Raise Funds for His Own Project (and Employer)

A few weeks ago, we noted that anti-gun activist David Hogg wanted to be a Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair.  We suggested caution be exercised before the DNC put an impulsive, often ill-informed individual with little ...

Colorado: More Gun Control Moves in the House

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Colorado: More Gun Control Moves in the House

Late last night, House Bill 25-1133, which places age restrictions on all ammunition purchases, passed on the House floor with bipartisan opposition.

NRA Files Amicus Brief Urging SCOTUS to Hear Challenge to New York’s “Concealed Carry Improvement Act”

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

NRA Files Amicus Brief Urging SCOTUS to Hear Challenge to New York’s “Concealed Carry Improvement Act”

Today, the National Rifle Association filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a challenge to New York’s “Concealed Carry Improvement Act.”

UPDATE: Legislation Introduced to Protect Veterans’ Second Amendment Rights

News  

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

UPDATE: Legislation Introduced to Protect Veterans’ Second Amendment Rights

The Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs, U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-IL-12) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), as well as Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), have reintroduced the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act ...

Defending the Indefensible: Court Strikes Illinois FOID Card Law

News  

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Defending the Indefensible: Court Strikes Illinois FOID Card Law

Lawmakers in Illinois have a long track record of irrational gun bans and restrictions based on the idea that public safety is best served by disarming criminals and law-abiding citizens alike, even if that means ...

The Hearing Protection Act Introduced in the 119th Congress

News  

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

The Hearing Protection Act Introduced in the 119th Congress

U.S. Representative Ben Cline (R-VA-06) and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) recently reintroduced the Hearing Protection Act (H.R. 404/S. 364) in the 119th Congress. This commonsense legislation will give gun owners and hunters the opportunity to ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.