WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), along with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), James Risch (R-ID), and Mike Crapo (R-ID) reintroduced the Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing Act of 2019, a bill that would ensure the elimination of all federal regulations of suppressors.

“Suppressors can make shooting safer for the millions of hunters and sportsmen that exercise their constitutional right to use firearms every year,” Sen. Lee said. “The current process for obtaining a suppressor is far too expensive and burdensome. Our bill would remove these unnecessary federal regulations and make it easier for firearms users to protect themselves.”

Suppressors are a non-lethal firearm accessory that lower the sound of a rifle shot, which unsuppressed is as loud as the sound of a jet engine taking off, at about 150 decibels. Suppressors lower the sound to about 130 decibels at most, which is about the same sound level as a chainsaw.

The current process to purchase a suppressor includes petitioning the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by filling out two copies of ATF Form 4, TF Form 5330.20, obtaining a certification from a local chief law enforcement officer, obtaining two copies of fingerprints, and mailing them all in with a $200 check. The approved form then will not come back for another nine to 12 months.

The bill, S. 202, would eliminate this onerous and unconstitutional process and provide reasonable hearing protection for sportsmen and citizens.