Suppressors/Silencers - Rumors, Myths, & the Time to Buy
"LWRC M6IC-DI w/ Sig SRD762-QD Suppressor, Trijicon MRO, Steiner DBAL-I2,
Streamlight Protac Rail Mount 1, & Magpul Furniture"
We have all seen them before, whether in the hands of sneaky, movie gunslingers or sitting behind glass at the gun store, suppressors have a tendency to garner the attention of both the firearm enthusiast and the casual movie-goer. Why? Well, to be blunt, they're cool. Yet with so much attention from Hollywood, the topic of suppressors is inundated with rumors, myths, and hesitation. As a result, in this article I aim to suppress (pun definitely intended) these harmful misconceptions and to help educate consumers on when the best time to purchase a suppressor is.
To begin, our first myth has to deal with nomenclature - what is a suppressor and what is a silencer? Truth be told, the physical objects are actually one in the same. The difference between the two actually finds root in the terms implications. Since the industry's push to get suppressors off of the BATFE's (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) list, the term "silencer", which was heavily utilized and brought to light in Hollywood's action films, has begun to be sidelined in favor of "suppressor". Why is this? Well, while Hollywood's films brought increased growth and attention to the suppressor market, it brought with it negative connotations in regards to suppressors and their capabilities. To the average non-gun-owner, it is easy to associate negative undertones with an object when it is constantly seen in the hands of movie villains and "evil-doers". If you have ever shot a firearm with a "silencer" however, you know that it doesn't even come close to actually silencing a firearm. In fact, depending on caliber and other contributing factors, hearing protection is still often required.
This brings us to myth number two: "SILENCERS ARE ILLEGAL!" To be fair, the suppressor industry really hasn't been at the forefront of firearm enthusiasts attention until the past few years. Yet, living here in Michigan where suppressors have been legal to own since 2011, its surprising how many times I have heard this. At the time of this article, suppressors are legal to own in 42 states (list below).
"Silencerco Maxim 9 Integrally Suppressed Handgun"
With every mythical thing, rumors are a major driving force. In regards to suppressors, rumors directly correlate to suppressor sales. Due to suppressors current classification as a Class III item, suppressors are subjected to additional paperwork, a $200 tax stamp, and anywhere from 6 months to a year wait time before you are approved and can actually pick up the suppressor. Fortunately, since the tax originated in 1934, the $200 tax has not changed. What does this mean? Well, if you were looking to buy a suppressor in 1934, the tax would be the equivalence of roughly $3,700 now in 2017. Ouch. Yet, with $200 being much more appealing than $3,700, a year wait for a metal tube can be daunting. Especially for those who don't excel in the realm of patience (guilty). This however brings me to my next point: the time to buy.
Like our "silencers are illegal" myth, its surprising to see how many people can't seem to get the ball rolling on the process when they are already set on purchasing. I'll be honest and admit that due to the wait period, I dragged my feet quite a bit before I put in my paperwork for my first suppressor. Yet, when I finally did, I realized that if I had done it when I first thought of it, I would have already had the suppressor in my possession. Rumors of current wait times run rampant both across the internet, and among suppressor owners. If an individual gets a suppressor back in six months, contrary to popular belief, it does not mean the current wait time is 6 months, it means the wait time was six months long, six months ago. Believe me when I say the best time to purchase a suppressor and get things started is now. Not only for your benefit, but for the industries benefit as well. With recent legislation about the removal of suppressors from the Class III list, suppressor sales have dropped dramatically due to consumers banking on the legislation to go through (we'll leave the likelihood of it actually going through for a whole separate article). This has caused many smaller manufactures to go under and many major manufacturers to layoff employees.
Want to learn how to purchase or want more info? Give us a call or send us a message through our contact page above. If you decide to purchase, we will walk you through the process!
States legal to own suppressors:*
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.
*Laws change. Always consult your local laws.