Your Privacy Choices
Good morning everyone. Thanks for visiting TFB’s Silencer Saturday. Today we unfortunately have to start out with some unpleasant news: There is a bill in the very beginning stages of the U.S. House of Representatives that takes square aim at manufacturers, dealers and owners of National Firearms Act (NFA) controlled firearms. A group, by the way, that is already heavily regulated, burdened and law abiding under the existing system. The proposed legislation, H.R. 5103 increases firearms taxes and fees across the board and even includes a section that will continue to adjust them for inflation.
If this bill becomes law, it will mark the end of the modern silencer industry.
I’m going to invoke my leadership privilege here at TFB and skim the top of the political debate on the use of taxes to regulate and control actions and ownership. Even though my it is my personal belief that this new bill has only a small likelihood of passing, I am both concerned and dismayed that legislation like this can even see the light of day. As I mentioned above, the statistics on the use of silencers used in crimes is beyond minuscule – so to further hinder and punish legal ownership is, at best, a dishonest tactic, especially when it is used as the masthead for a bill named the “Gun Violence Prevention And Safe Communities Act”. (1)(2)(3)
1) http://freebeacon.com/issues/atf-despite-nearly-1-3-million-silencers-united-states-rarely-used-crimes/
2) http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/national/read-the-white-paper-on-firearms-regulations/2325/
3) http://www.westerncriminology.org/documents/WCR/v08n2/clark.pdf
Among the increase in taxes on ammunition and firearms, and increases in SOT and FFL licensing and fees, H.R. 5103 raises the NFA tax to transfer silencers from $200 to $500. Taxing the transfer of NFA with what is essentially the total cost of an average suppressor will grind sales to a halt, force dealers and distributors to significantly reduce inventories and will crush production by manufacturers.
DO YOU WANT A $500 NFA TAX?
I also take issue with the formatting and language in the proposed bill – although it is accepted practice to propose changes and additions to current laws with legal shorthand, the following section makes it difficult for the general public to understand what is actually being suggested:
Increase In Transfer Tax On Firearms.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 5811 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(A) by striking “$200” and inserting “$500”; and
(B) by striking “$5” and inserting “$100”.
Stating the original law sections in their entirety would give the people an opportunity to see the real impact of the proposed bill. As it stands now, the less informed can barely see a $300 tax increase in NFA tax.
In my opinion, H.R. 5103 is detrimental to both law abiding gun owners in the U.S. that already follow the intense rules and regulations, and to an industry that is by default backed by an American workforce. If this bill becomes law, it will mark the end of the modern silencer industry: Whereas there may be pseudo-workarounds for SBR regulations (Pistol Stabilizing Braces), nothing can take the place of a suppressor.
A year ago, there was a glimmer of hope for the Hearing Protection Act; now we are facing a $500 NFA Tax and the potential end of an era. Unbelievable really.
Silencers at IWA International Trade Fair – Germany
TFB’s Nick C. traveled to Nuremberg for the IWA show last week, among other interesting finds, he uncovered a gold mine of silencers from around the world. He’s got a lengthy writeup of his finds going live sometime this week.
Social Silence:
Published on Feb 15, 2018: Richard and Brooks from Thompson Machine begin a series of torture test of the TM ISIS-2 9mm Suppressor.
Follow Buffman R.A.N.G.E. on YouTube
Published on Mar 15, 2018: Buffman R.A.N.G.E. – Silencer Shop Authority, Yankee Hill Machine, Turbo 5.56 Suppressor
Follow The VSO Gun Channel on YouTube
Published on Mar 7, 2018: The DD Wave is a new silencer from Daniel Defense based on the concept of 3D printing or additive manufacturing. Sound Suppressors have long been limited in technology by traditional machining practices. With the integration of 3D printing, internal geometry can be achieved that would otherwise be very difficult to achieve. The can is constructed of a variety of metals including stainless steel and titanium; more in depth data can be obtained from Silencer Shop.
One of a kind suppressor from Delta P Design
This 300BLK Delta P Brevis was designed for the PWS MK 112 and now lives at BMC Tactical in Albuquerque, NM.
