Are Silencers for Guns Legal?

When you think of silenced firearms, you probably think of the movies where a hit man or other bad guy fires a gun and it makes no sound at all, allowing him to complete his mission without being detected.  The truth of silenced firearms is slightly different from the images that have been portrayed in movies and on television for many years.  You may be interested in purchasing a silencer and trying one out for yourself, just to see what it is like... so are silencers for guns legal?  The short answer is yes, although there are some specific legal hurdles you must go through in order to legally procure one.

Understanding Gun Laws and Silencers

Silencers are known as a Title 2 weapon and are regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934. In order to purchase a silencer, you must provide certain documentation to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms:

• You must provide a fingerprint card and a Form 4 application that is signed by the chief law enforcement officer in your jurisdiction or county. In most cases, this is the local chief of police or other head of a local law enforcement agency. 
• In addition to the forms that you must provide to the ATF, you must also pay a $200, one time fee, which is a tax on the ownership of silencers and which will be returned to you in the form of a tax stamp which you must keep with the silencer as proof that you purchased it lawfully.

In many areas of the country, there are local laws that are more strict and less receptive to ownership of silencers than the National Firearms Act, which is a federal law.  In these cases, you must abide by the local law.  Many states do not allow silencers, or machine guns, or vice versa, and in many cases, if your local law enforcement officer refuses to sign off on your form for personal reasons, you will not be able to proceed with purchasing a silencer even if it is legal in your area.  So there are many potential hurdles to silencer ownership.

Getting Help

There are many practical applications for silencer ownership, such as to allow for pest control in crowded areas, and for practicing shooting without having to wear ear plugs or other ear protection.  If you are interested in learning more about silencer ownership and whether it is legal in your area, contact a local gun store or shooting club or speak with an experienced attorney who can explain to you what your rights in your state are.