Augusta, ME – On Tuesday, June 8th, Governor Janet Mills (D-ME) signed Senator Trey Stewart’s (R – Aroostook) L.D. 635 into law, thus repealing the requirement to obtain a permit from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) before hunting with a firearm suppressor in The Pine Tree State. Her signature comes less than a week after both chambers of the Maine Legislature passed the pro-suppressor legislation unanimously.
As is standard in Maine, the new law will take effect 90 days after the end of the current legislative session. If the legislature adjourns as it is currently scheduled to on June 16th, hunters in Maine will be able to use their suppressors in the field without the additional state permit beginning Tuesday, September 14th.
The American Suppressor Association would like to thank Sen. Stewart for sponsoring and championing this common-sense reform, as well as Gov. Mills and every member of the legislature for showing the world that there are pro-gun bills that Republicans and Democrats alike can agree on. We would also like to thank the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and the National Rifle Association for their support of LD 635.
Thanks to your collective work, the hunting experience in Maine will soon be safer.
Noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus are two of the most common afflictions for recreational shooters and hunters. Everyone knows that gunfire is loud, but very few people understand the repercussions that shooting can have on their hearing until it’s too late. Suppressors reduce the noise of a gunshot by an average of 20 – 35 dB, which is roughly the same as earplugs or earmuffs. By decreasing the overall sound signature, suppressors help to preserve the hearing of recreational shooters, hunters, and hunting dogs around the world.
Most hunters do not wear hearing protection in the field because they want to hear their surroundings. The trouble is, exposure to even a single unsuppressed gunshot can, and often does, lead to permanent hearing damage. Suppressors allow hunters to maintain full situational awareness, while still protecting their hearing. The result is a safer hunting experience for the hunter, and for those nearby.
As urban development advances into rural areas, shooting ranges and hunting preserves across the country are being closed due to noise complaints. Although it can still be heard, suppressed gunfire helps mitigate noise complaints from those who live near shooting ranges and hunting land.
Suppressors reduce recoil, and help decrease muzzle flinch. These benefits lead to improved accuracy, better shot placement, and more humane hunts.
Although legal in 42 states, suppressors have been federally regulated since the passage of the National Firearms Act of 1934. Currently, prospective buyers must send in a Form 4 application to the ATF, pay a $200 transfer tax per suppressor, undergo the same process that is required to purchase a machine gun, and wait months for ATF to process and approve the paperwork. In stark contrast, many countries in Europe place little to no regulations on their purchase, possession, or use.
About the American Suppressor Association
The American Suppressor Association (ASA) is the unified voice of the suppressor community. We exist for one reason and one reason only: to fight for pro-suppressor reform nationwide.
The ability of the American Suppressor Association to fight for pro-suppressor reform is tied directly to our ability to fundraise. Since the ASA’s formation in 2011, 3 states have legalized suppressor ownership and 18 states have legalized suppressor hunting. Much of this would not have happened without your support. For more information on how you can join us in the fight to help protect and expand your right to own and use suppressors, visit www.AmericanSuppressorAssociation.com.