Wyoming: Pro-Hunting Reform Passes House Committee and Awaits Final Approval by the House

Today, the state House Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee voted 6 to 3 to repeal the state prohibition on hunting with sound suppressors (which are additionally regulated under federal law) while providing additional penalties for those who use them illegally. Representatives Dan Zwonitzer (R-43), Rita Campbell (R-34), and Stan Blake (D-39) voted against this bill. Last week, the state Senate voted 23 to 7 to pass Senate File 132, introduced by Senator Ogden Driskill (R-01).  This bill is now eligible for a final vote of approval in the House, which could be held as early as tomorrow.  This is your last chance to contact your state Representative and politely encourage his or her support of this common sense hunting reform measure.

Currently, more than half of the states across the country allow hunters to use suppressors.  Recently Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas adopted new rules allowing for use of suppressors when hunting game.  It’s time that hunters in Wyoming are able to enjoy the same opportunities available to sportsmen in more than half of the country.  For more information on firearms and suppressors, click here.

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.

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). Also, purchasers must 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.

Please contact your state Representative today and urge his or her support for SF 132.