John, the Trump administration just hit a new low. (You might want to sit down because what I’m about to share is truly disgraceful and even sickening.) 

A few days ago, the Trump administration quietly repealed America’s ban on the sale of firearm silencers — which reduce the sound of gunfire — to private foreign buyers. This ban was enacted by the State Department in 2002 to protect American soldiers abroad, to ensure that American-made silencers did not fall into the hands of terrorist groups.

The harm is clear: This repeal will increase the risk that U.S. service members will be shot or killed with American-made guns and accessories. 

This repeal is immoral. It’s unpatriotic. It’s lethal. 

And it gets worse. Guess where the Trump administration lawyer who led the repeal of the ban of silencers used to work? 

The American Suppressor Association.

Money talks. And the Trump administration listens. It’s estimated that reversing this silencer ban will give a $250 million bump in annual sales to the manufacturers represented by American Suppressor Association. That is blood money, plain and simple.

We cannot let this stand. Congress cannot sit idly by. Will you join me in calling on Congress to immediately introduce legislation to overturn this irresponsible and dangerous action?

We cannot endanger our troops, nor can we endanger innocent civilians in other countries. Silencers have been heavily regulated in this country for almost 100 years, including outright bans in eight states and Washington, D.C. Why would we empower their sale and spread across the globe? 
 

Please, join me in urging Congress to overturn this murderous repeal.  

Thank you, 

Christian Heyne
Vice President of Policy
Gun violence survivor