Texas – Hunting With Suppressors Legal Sept. 1 2012

Ammoland ^ | 31 August, 2012 | ASA

[marktwain]

Washington, DC –-(Ammoland.com)- On September 1, 2012, a new regulation allowing hunters in the state of Texas to use suppressors while pursuing game animals will go into effect.

With the passage of the new rule by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWD) on March 30, Texas became the second state in 2012 to legalize suppressor use while hunting. In 2012, similar measures were also passed legislatively in Arizona and Oklahoma.

“These devices are already legal for hunting exotic animals, including feral hogs, and there is no resource- or enforcement-related reason to prohibit these devices for hunting alligators, game animals or game birds,” Scott Vaca, TPWD Assistant Chief of Wildlife Enforcement, said in a statement released on March 30.

Contrary to popular belief, suppressors, also referred to as silencers, do not render gunshots inaudible. However, often times they do reduce the report of a firearm to hearing safe levels, helping to protect the shooter and those nearby from permanent hearing damage.

In order for a civilian to purchase a suppressor, they must live in one of the 39 states that allow civilian ownership. All applicants must submit an ATF Form 4, in duplicate, to the National Firearms Act Branch of the ATF for each suppressor purchased. A Form 4, or Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of Firearm, includes a stringent background check that is conducted by the FBI. In addition, applicants must submit a $200 payment for the transfer tax, duplicate copies of passport photos and fingerprints, and receive a signoff from a chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) in their jurisdiction. From start to finish, this transfer process takes anywhere from 30 days to one year to complete.

The American Silencer Association would like to congratulate Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma for enacting their new laws and regulations. The ASA will continue to work off of their momentum to push for additional suppressor regulatory reform in those states which do not allow civilian ownership or suppressor use while hunting.

About the American Silencer Association: The American Silencer Association (ASA) is a non-profit trade association, whose mission is to further the pursuit of education, public relations, legislation, and hunting, law enforcement, and military applications for the silencer industry. For more information on how you can help protect your silencer rights, visit www.AmericanSilencerAssociation.com.

[marktwain]

All restrictions and regulations on gun mufflers should be repealed. Their imposition has been a public health disaster, with millions losing hearing because they were prohibited from buying inexpensive gun mufflers for no legitimate reason.

[KoRn]

I've always wanted to get a 'can' for my HK USP45 Tactical. Not that I'll be hunting with it, but a suppressor would be so much fun, and it would make the gun look so cool!(that's important you know - and those factory threads are on that barrel for a reason)

sorry, just can't resist posting a pic of it every chance I get..... :p)

[Hodar]

My only concern is that these suppressors reduce the energy delivered to the prey, as well as decrease accuracy - thus leading to more wounded animals.

I hunt, but I’m all about a clean, humane kill. One shot, and the animals drop dead. Clean, near instantaneous death. All it takes is some serious target practice, and planning your shot before you take it.

[txhurl]

[marktwain]

My only concern is that these suppressors reduce the energy delivered to the prey, as well as decrease accuracy - thus leading to more wounded animals.

Suppressors do not reduce the energy of a load. People may use reduced loads to make suppressors more effective, but users report that even full power .308 and .338 loads may be fired with good suppressors without hearing protection.

This is because a good suppressor design nearly eliminates muzzle blast, the major component of the noise of a shot that damages hearing. There is still noise from the sonic crack of a supersonic bullet as it goes down range, but it is much smaller and traveling away from the shooter.

I am seriously considering purchasing a suppressor for a hunting rifle because I have already lost way too much hearing. The regulatory hurdles and wait time involved are still very burdensome.

[marktwain]

as well as decrease accuracy

Many suppressor users claim a slight increase in accuracy, but the point of impact is often different with a suppressor mounted.

Practical accuracy is usually increased because felt recoil and blast are much reduced, tending to reduce flinching.

[PLMerite]

Good. Now if the deer runs into a public library, I can follow it.

[AnonymousConservative]

Be careful with this. I knew a lawyer who specialized in firearms law who said (my recollection) if you commit any felony while in possesion of an NFA classed item you get an automatic 25 year adder on.

His caution was that if you used anything NFA for self defense, and the local prosecutor decided to Zimmerman you, you could get what you would normally get, plus 25 years if he succeeded. Plus if you accidently broke a law like accidently carrying into a restricted area, what might have been nothing could turn into 25 years. Same for having your gun show at a grocery store, and an over eager cop hit you with menacing or resisting arrest. I imagine there might be hunting laws which could be innocently missed, and do the same thing.

Any lawyer familiar with this, please jump in and check my facts though, I’m going on recollection, and a lack of a legal background.

I fully agree they should be as legal as a 10/22 (and want a bunch myself), but with all the Libs out there, you need to protect yourself too.

[KoRn]

All VERY valid considerations!

I doubt I would EVER ‘carry’ an NFA item. For home defense, who knows. As you so eloquently stated, the prosecutor can always ‘go Zimmerman’ on us at any time.