About suppressors

Can I own a suppressor legally?

Yes. Contrary to popular belief, suppressors are and always have been legal to own under federal law.  As of Jan 2010 the following states allow private ownership of suppressors: AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and WY. Of the fifteen states that do not allow civilian ownership, CA, IA, MA, MO, and MI allow Class 3 dealers and Class 2 manufacturers to possess suppressors.

Who can own a suppressor?

To legally purchase a silencer you must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of the United States, have no felony record and live in a state that allows private ownership of suppressors.

Do I have to have a license to own a suppressor?

Suppressors, like machine-guns, are regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934, and are regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The procedure for owning a silencer may seem long and drawn out at first, but actually requires less paperwork than buying an automobile or home. The first step is to locate a Class 3 dealer, like A&J Guns in your state who either has in stock or will order the item you are interested in. Once the item you would like to purchase is in the hand of the FFL/SOT dealer a Form 4 will be filled out on-line and 2 complete copies will be printed out. The Form 4's must be filled out on both sides, with passport photos of the buyer affixed to the backside of the form. The buyer then has the Chief Law Enforcement Officer sign the rear of the Form 4's attesting the purchaser does not possess a criminal record and is not wanted. The two fingerprint cards must be completed and signed by a Law Enforcement agency.

The completed paperwork is then sent to the Department of the Treasury with a check in the amount of $200.00. The $200.00 is known as a "transfer tax" because it must be paid whenever ownership of the silencer is "transferred" (in this case, the dealer to the buyer). As long as ownership remains with the same person, the tax need not be paid again. Only if the owner sells it will a new transfer tax be required. Currently, a lawful owner may bequeath his suppressor to a lawful heir with without being assesed this transfer tax.

Once the paperwork has been submitted, it normally takes 90 to 120 days to receive the approved, stamped paperwork from the NFA Branch. Upon the return of the approved paperwork the dealer can allow the buyer to take possession of their new suppressor. A copy of the approved paperwork must  accompany the suppressor at all times (the original should be stored in a safe deposit box). Suppressors can be transported to other states that allow their ownership, but to transport a suppressor into one of the states which prohibit private ownership can subject the owner to serious state felony charges.