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The biggest news in the suppressor world this month was ATF’s clandestine decision to change the definition of a suppressor. According to ATF, this is all part of their grand strategy to clamp down on illegal suppressor kits from China that they claim are being used by criminals to skirt NFA laws.
But rather than finding and prosecuting these criminals, ATF’s solution is to punish the very people who are doing everything legally and above board by filing a Form 1 in good faith.
One good thing to come out of all of this is that lawmakers in both chambers of Congress have taken action. On March 17th, Senator Steve Daines and 25 of his Senate colleagues sent a letter to ATF demanding answers for their blatant overstep of authority. On the House side, 142 Republican Representatives signed on to their own letter, spearheaded by House Judiciary Committee members Andy Biggs and Ranking Member Jim Jordan.
To support these initiatives, the American Suppressor Association worked alongside staff from Sen. Daines’ office, the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Biggs’ office, as well as the National Rifle Association, and the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition. But the biggest help came from the more than 20,000 people who contacted their legislators through ASA’s legislative contact form.
ASA’s demands are simple:
- Insist that ATF stop using secret rulemaking
- Demand that ATF abide by it’s previous determinations, and
- Support the immediate passage of the Hearing Protection Act
ATF has until April 1st to answer the Congressional letters and rest assured we will let you know as news develops.
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