Civilian ownership of firearm suppressors

This petition is to allow the American people of the good state of Minnesota to purchase and possess firearm suppressors. We are one of eleven states that do not allow it.

Suppressors would give numerous advantages to citizens of Minnesota. Suppressors help reduce the loud noise of firing a firearm. They benefit the sportsman in reducing injuries to the hearing canal. Another benefit of suppressors is reduced noise to the community surrounding ourdoor firing ranges and hunting areas.

Some people believe that suppressors make firearms nearly silent but that is not the case. There are many more factors that make a gunshot loud beside the combustion of the round such as action movement, the bullet itself traveling through the air, or the bullet striking the target. On average, todays suppressors available to the community reduce the noise of gunshots by about 30-40 decibles, putting the numbers below the amount to damage hearing. This decrease in decibles from suppressors is roughly the same as using hearing protection.

Suppressors can be very easily compared to a car muffler. The suppressor, just like a car muffler, uses baffles and chambers to re direct the pressurized gases. This makes the shots much more quiet and less damaging to the ears. If mufflers are on cars why cant we chose to put one on our firearms to protect our hearing?

Suppressors increase the accuracy of the shooter as well as protect the hearing. There is typically a reduction in recoil by about 30-50% due to the extra weight and location of the suppressor. This means faster follow up shots, increased accuracy, decreased muzzle flip, and decreased fatigue on the sportsman. Suppressors also hide the muzzle flash of the shot giving hunters a bigger element of surprise.

One of the biggest worries that have shot down lifting the ban on suppressors in other states, is that inocent people wont find safety because they cannot hear the enemys shots. This is very much so not the case. Shots from a silenced firearm are still loud, nothing like what hollywood makes them appear to be. All the suppressor does is dampen the percussion so the hearing of shooters or people around are not damaged. Most people still use hearing protection even when firing a suppressed firearm.

All of these reasons make shooting a firearm much more safe and enjoyable!

States that allow the sale of suppressors to civilians have to follow Federal guidlines that I stated in the preamble. There will be a background check done as if purchasing a firearm, and you pay a fee of $200 which would benefit the government. They also take fingerprints and register the suppressor with the Federal Government.

I personally have Tinnitus, ringing in the ears, from firearms. There are absolutely no negatives to allowing the purchase and use of suppressors. I am very upset that there is a ban on, basically, hearing protection. This needs to change.