Arizona: Pro-Hunting Legislation Passes in Committee and is Sent to House floor!

Arizona: Pro-Hunting Legislation Passes in Committee and is Sent to House floor!

HB 2728 Could Face a Vote Next Week - Contact your state Representatives TODAY!

Yesterday, the Arizona House Committee on Military Affairs and Public Safety by a 6 to 0 vote sent House Bill 2728 to the state House floor with a “do pass" recommendation.  This NRA-backed pro-hunting legislation, introduced by state Representative David Gowan (R-30), could now be voted on by the state House as early as next week.  Enactment of HB 2728 would allow hunters in Arizona to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. This bill needs your support!

In order to acquire a suppressor, a purchaser must submit the appropriate paperwork to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives where long wait times for approval are unfortunately common (four to six months), undergo a background check by the FBI, find a licensed dealer authorized to conduct the transaction and pay a one-time $200 tax for each device.  While suppressors do not eliminate the sound of a firearm, they do reduce the muzzle report in a manner similar to the way that a muffler reduces exhaust noise from a vehicle.  The benefits associated with suppressor use include increased accuracy due to reduced recoil and muzzle blast, protection from hearing damage and reduced noise pollution.

Noise complaints are being used more frequently as an excuse to close shooting ranges, informal shooting areas, and hunting lands throughout the country.  Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate many of these complaints and protect hunting and shooting areas well into the future. For more information on firearms and suppressors, click here.

Currently, more than half of the states allow hunters to use suppressors while hunting. It’s time that hunters in Arizona enjoy these same opportunities available to residents in more than half of the country.  The NRA will continue working to legalize suppressors while hunting, and will keep you updated on HB 2728.

It is important that you call AND e-mail your state Representatives TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB 2728. Contact information for your state Representatives can be found here.