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NSSF Factsheet: Hearing Protection Act

The Hearing Protection Act

Under current law, suppressors, a firearm accessory, are regulated as heavily as machine guns under the prohibition-era National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934. To purchase a suppressor, an individual must locate a retailer that is regulated as a NFA Class III dealer, complete an ATF Form 4 with the model and serial number of the suppressor, obtain two passport photos and fingerprint cards from a local police department. The local chief law enforcement official must receive a completed copy of the application. Then the form, photographs and fingerprints must be sent to ATF along with a check to pay the $200 tax. Currently, it takes ATF about 16 days to process the paperwork. Then, the customer can obtain the suppressor from the NFA Class III dealer, who is also a federally-licensed firearm retailer.

While the bill would remove suppressors from the National Firearms Act, it would not deregulate suppressors. They would remain regulated under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA). Federally licensed firearm retailers would still maintain detailed sales records subject to ATF audit and conduct an FBI background check on all purchases, just as they do now.

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