Georgia: NRA-Backed Hunting Reform Goes to Senate Floor

Yesterday, Senate Bill 93 passed in the Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and now goes to the Senate floor for further action.  SB 93, sponsored by Senator Bill Heath (R-31), would allow hunters in Georgia to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms while hunting.

Currently, more than half of the states allow hunters to use suppressors while hunting.  There are numerous benefits to hunting with suppressed firearms, including:

• Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate noise complaints that are frequently an excuse to close hunting lands throughout the country.  This will protect hunting areas well into the future.
• Using a suppressor while hunting will reduce recoil and muzzle rise to help increase the accuracy of hunters.  More accurate shooting in the field means fewer wounded and lost animals--a good thing for hunters and wildlife.
• Suppressors reduce the muzzle report to hearing safe levels, reducing the chance that the hunter or anyone with the hunter will suffer permanent hearing loss if they fail to use hearing protection. 

Recently, Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas adopted new rules allowing for use of suppressors when hunting game.  It’s time that hunters in Georgia 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.

Please contact your state Senator and urge him or her to support this pro-hunting reform.  Click here to view contact information for your state Senator.