Congressman Michael Cloud (TX-27) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Silencers Help Us Save Hearing (SHUSH) Act today to eliminate excessive regulations around firearm suppressors, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and ensuring consistent laws nationwide.
Under Federal law currently, anyone wishing to acquire a suppressor must jump through bureaucratic hoops through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), including:
- Submitting two ATF Form 4’s;
- Fill out ATF Form 5330.20 Certification of Compliance;
- Provide certification from a local law enforcement officer, along with two copies of fingerprints; and
- Submit two passport photos and pay a $200 federal tax.
This process can often take up to a year for approval.
The SHUSH Act completely removes suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA), treating them as standard firearm accessories and ends the $200 tax.
Congressman Michael Cloud said this about introducing the bill:
“Suppressors are a vital tool for responsible gun owners that protect hearing, enhance safety, and reduce firearm noise—but thanks to Hollywood and federal overreach, they’ve been unfairly vilified. Law-abiding Americans shouldn’t have to endure months of red tape and pay an additional tax just to access a safety accessory. The SHUSH Act puts an end to this unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, eliminates the federal tax, and prevents state overreach by treating suppressors like any other firearm accessory.”
Additionally, U.S. Senate sponsor of the bill, Mike Lee said:
“Despite what Hollywood may lead you to believe, silencers aren’t silent, and they aren’t just for secret agents. They are a vital tool for hearing protection for countless marksmen and gun enthusiasts across America, and making them prohibitively difficult to obtain is an assault on the 2nd Amendment. The SHUSH Act eliminates federal regulation of silencers and treats them as the non-lethal accessory that they are.”
The National Association for Gun Rights has been working with both Congressmen to introduce the SHUSH Act.
Hunter King, Federal Affairs Director for NAGR, said this about the introduction of the SHUSH Act:
“Suppressors are accessories and should be treated just like magazines, scopes, or gun stocks. Treating an accessory the same as a gun sets a bad precedence for anti-gun legislators to further regulate other accessories in the future. There’s no reason they should be subjected to the Brady registration scheme. We’re happy and privileged to be able to work with Sen. Lee and Rep. Cloud on this legislation.”
Read more at Breitbart.
