Despite ATF Roadblocks, Nearly 5 Million Suppressors Legally Owned

By Free Republic | Created at 2024-12-18 17:53:17 | Updated at 2024-12-18 20:41:51 2 hours ago

Despite ATF Roadblocks, Nearly 5 Million Suppressors Legally Owned
AmmoLand ^ | December 9, 2024 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 12/18/2024 9:45:10 AM PST by marktwain

The number of legal suppressors in the USA is almost certainly over five million. The National Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF) revealed a Freedom of Information Act request submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which was finally answered this summer. The total number was 4.86 million at the end of July 2024. From the NSSF:

In a recent Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA), NSSF received from ATF the additional number of silencers from May 2021 to July 2024. An incredible 2,193,123 more suppressors are protecting the hearing of hunters and shooters. That means a whopping 4.86 million silencers and counting are in possession by law-abiding Americans.

The number of tax stamps issued for silencers, also commonly referred to as suppressors, had to be pried out of the ATF with a FOIA. The ATF has gained a reputation for long waits and poor responses to FOIA requests. Before the Biden administration took power, detailed information on all National Firearms Act items was publicly available in an annual report called Firearms Commerce in the United States. Once the Biden administration took control of the ATF, the annual report was, without notice, discontinued. The ATF would not publish the information. They slowly responded to FOIA requests, which is how the NSSF finally obtained the numbers. The numbers show an accelerating demand for legal silencers, with an average of nearly 60,000 tax stamps being issued each month.

The average does not tell the whole story. Demand has been accelerating. Information shows there were 3.5 million silencers through January 2024. Thus, 1.4 million silencers were added in the six months from January 2024 to the end of July 2024. It is virtually certain there are over 5 million legal silencers in the USA today.

(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...

TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atf; banglist; millions; silencer

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Silencers should be removed from the National Firearms Act (NFA). They never should have been included. The effective ban has been a national health care disaster.

1 posted on 12/18/2024 9:45:10 AM PST by marktwain

To: marktwain

the NFA and its enforcement should be removed, too

2 posted on 12/18/2024 9:46:08 AM PST by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))

To: marktwain

Actually suppressors should be not only legal but encouraged for the sake of hearing loss.

3 posted on 12/18/2024 9:48:47 AM PST by ThePatriotsFlag (Accepting a false premise initiates conversational defeat.)

To: faithhopecharity

Along with the GCA and subsequent infringements.

4 posted on 12/18/2024 9:48:49 AM PST by curious7

To: marktwain

Agreed...

It seems that a number of @ 5 MILLION.. pretty much moves them from rare obscure things only in spy movies to “COMMON USE”.

I could easily see making these Required use at all ranges and where ever practical.

To: marktwain

I’ve had an Advanced Armaments .223/.556 suppressor since 2002, and it’s a fun time on the range. There are many others there, waiting in-line to have a turn at it.

6 posted on 12/18/2024 9:51:50 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)

To: marktwain

Silencers should be removed from the National Firearms Act (NFA)

The National Firearms Act should be removed from the body of United States law.

7 posted on 12/18/2024 9:52:45 AM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)

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