As the state House of Representatives prepares for its final vote to repeal the state prohibition on hunting with sound suppressors, a number of hostile amendments are being proposed that would essentially cripple this bill’s purpose. Senate File 132, introduced by Senator Ogden Driskill (R-01), passed the House Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee by a 6 to 3 vote earlier this week with Representatives Dan Zwonitzer (R-43), Rita Campbell (R-34) and Stan Blake (D-39) voting against it. Thanks to your calls and e-mails Representative Blake has changed his opinion on the bill and said he will now vote for it on the House floor. Last week, the state Senate passed this bill unamended by a 23 to 7 vote. A final vote on the House floor will be held any day now and it is imperative that you let your Representative know that a vote for any amendment is a vote against your rights.
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.
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