WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, March 13th, Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT), joined by seven colleagues in the Senate, introduced the ASA-supported Protecting Americans’ Right to Silence (PARTS) Act as S. 1039. This bipartisan proposal will reform the outdated definition of “firearm silencer” in the Gun Control Act.
“We applaud Senator Sheehy for standing up for the rights of millions of law-abiding gun owners,” said Knox Williams, president and executive director of the American Suppressor Association. “No one should have to have a law degree to understand the technical serialization requirements for a simple hearing protection device. Senator Sheehy has done gun owners a great service by introducing this bill.”
The PARTS Act is co-sponsored by Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Pete Ricketts (NE), Ted Budd (R-NC), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Justice (R-WV), and John Cornyn (R-TX). Representative August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives.
Background
- PARTS Act refines the definition of a suppressor, narrowing it to cover complete devices or a single essential component, such as a frame or receiver. This shift eliminates the ambiguity of broader terms that have been used in the past, such as “combination of parts,” which has led to regulatory confusion.
- The PARTS Act eliminates unnecessary paperwork that the ATF requires upon the purchase of consumable suppressor parts, such as wipes. This would be similar to the process during the purchase of other non-serialized firearm components. The PARTS Act will ensure greater access to these parts for legal suppressor owners.
- The bill also addresses and heads off regulatory concerns that were raised in an open letter to the ATF in November 2023, to prevent plans to classify certain suppressor parts as regulated suppressors.
- As suppressor wait times reach historic lows, the PARTS Act will better ensure that the growing popularity of suppressed shooting remains accessible and protected under clear, common-sense regulations.
- This legislation intends to protect access to the market for everyday people while avoiding the regulatory reversals which have historically hurt consumers across industries.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN SUPPRESSOR ASSOCIATION
Founded in 2011, the American Suppressor Association has been instrumental in promoting the rights of suppressor owners nationwide, advocating for legal reform, and educating the public about the benefits of suppressors. ASA’s successful campaigns have resulted in the legalization of suppressors in three states, the use of suppressors while hunting in 19 states, the defeat of numerous attempts to impose state level bans, and the dramatic improvements to NFA transfer times.
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