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2016 NRA Annual Meeting, Day Zero
The National Rifle Association annual meeting officially starts tomorrow and runs the rest of the weekend, but I received an invite to an event set up by the American Suppressor Association where I’d shoot a whole bunch of suppressed guns for free, with other people’s ammo.
Of course I went. I’d be crazy not to.
The American Suppressor Association is an industry trade group devoted to making firearms noise suppressors easier to obtain for American gun owners. Currently, suppressors can be purchased in some states (but not all) if you submit a photo, fingerprints and a special form to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with $200 for a tax stamp. And then you wait for a quite along time until the government says you can own a safety device for your guns.
That sounds silly because it is silly. If I took the muffler off my car and attached it to gun, I’d be breaking the law twice. These restrictions are a by-product of the 1934 National Firearms Act, a Roosevelt-era attempt to greatly restrict the right of Americans to keep and bear arms. Having to wait for months and months to pass a background check may have seemed normal back in 1934, but today, the National Criminal Information System (or NCIS) performs essentially the same function instantaneously over the phone, making a lengthy wait to purchase a suppressor a relic of a bygone era. The American Suppressor Association has a bill in the House (sponsored by Matt Salmon, R–AZ) to change this outdated law, and I urge not just firearms owners but anyone interested in rolling back useless legislation to contact their Congressman and ask them to support this bill.
Besides that, suppressors (or silencers, as they were called when Hiram Maxim patented them at the turn of the 20th century) are an excellent aid in teaching new gun owners how to shoot. Because they eliminate a good portion of the noise of a gunshot and some of the recoil, they take away some the fear and panic first-time shooters can have at the range. They are also a hoot to shoot. I sent some rounds downrange today out of a suppressed, bolt-action .22 rifle, and the only noises I heard was the “click” of the trigger and immediately afterward, the “thwack” of the bullet hitting the target.
So much fun.
Tomorrow will be a interesting day because Donald Trump will be giving one of his first speeches since wrapping up the Republican nomination. American gun owners have not shunned Trump despite his spotty (at best) record of defending the Second Amendment, so I am genuinely curious to see what he has to say to an audience comprising of nothing but NRA members.
One more gratuitous gun pic: A Six12 bullpup, cylinder-fed, semi-automatic shotgun with a SilencerCo Salvo12 suppressor on it. This thing was awe-inspiring to shoot.
Who is going to the NRA convention this year?
When the ASA gets together for a meeting, does everyone whisper?
Is the law the only reason that suppressors are not integrated into some firearms or is there a practical reason as well? Speaking as someone who knows very little about the subject.
Is Norquist still on the board?
As one recalls, the ban was impemented on the premise that a silencer was a Gangsters choice. A mindset that remains to this day.
Nonsense has a long shelf life. Will be interesting to learn of the test results.
Quomidian, I’m not an expert, but I was told that the baffles inside start to break down with repeated use, so the supressor become less effective over time. But again, I’m not an expert, so if I’m wrong about that hopefully someone will correct me.
Welcome to Louisville KC. Have fun. Spend money. Did you drive by the pink liquor store on your way to the range?
Welcome to Louisville. Stay and enjoy. There are tons of good restaurants and breweries here.
If we have some Ricochet members in town should we try to have a mini meetup?
I have family obligations all weekend, but if somebody puts something together let me know when/where and I’ll try to work it in.
Sunday morning works for me.
KC, sorry it took so long to get back to you. cannot make it. It seems every spare minute is taken. I hope other Ricochetti can meet you.