Help Make Suppressors legal for Hunting in Michigan

[rjrivero]

As you may be aware, private ownership of silencers has recently been legalized in Michigan. The law on the books says that in order to own a silencer in Michigan, you must be properly licensed by the United States Treasury Department. For a long time, it was interpreted to mean you had to have an FFL and SOT. The problem is that in order to be a dealer for silencers you need a clientèle. Not so easy to come by.

Attorney General Bill Schutte wrote a letter on Sep 2, 2011 that interprets the transfer stamp process meeting approval for this requirement, in effect allowing for private ownership of silencers in Michigan.

However, Michigan's Wildlife Conservation Order 2.1(6) states it is illegal to possess or use a silencer for hunting.

Wildlife Conservation Orders are amended by the Natural Resources Commission. It is a "relatively easy" task to have them change the Wildlife Conservation Orders, and thereby allow for silencers for hunting in Michigan.

I'm asking that anyone who hunts in Michigan please write the Natural Resources Commission and ask them to consider removing this restriction on silencers.

Their contact information is as follows and is available on the Michigan DNR Website. The email is for the secretary for the Commission.

Commissioner Names and Addresses

Mary C. Brown
1624 Grand Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
269-344-0536
Appointed: 1/6/04
Reappointed: 2/6/08
Term Expires: 12/31/11
Democrat

Hurley J. Coleman, Jr.
2405 Bay Road
Saginaw, MI 48602
989-752-7957 (Office)
Appointed: 1/10/07
Reappointed: 2/6/08
Term Expires: 12/31/11
Democrat

John Madigan
831 W. Munising Avenue
Munising, MI 49862
906-387-4468 (Office)
Appointed: 1/1/03
Reappointed: 4/6/07 and 1/13/11
Term Expires: 12/31/14
Republican

John Matonich
9502 Shyre Circle
Davison, MI 48423
810-653-4817 (Office)
Appointed: 7/1/10
Term Expires: 12/31/13
Democrat

Tim Nichols (Chair)
111 Birchwood Lane
Cadillac, MI 49601
517-373-2352
Appointed 5/6/09
Term Expires 12/31/12
Democrat

J. R. Richardson
36658 McGuire Road
Ontonagon, MI 49953
906-885-7187 (Office)
Appointed: 4/6/07
Reappointed: 1/13/11
Term Expires: 12/31/14
Republican

Frank C. Wheatlake
Reed City Power Line Supply
420 N. Roth Street, Suite A
Reed City, MI 49677
231-796-5491 (Home)
231-832-2298 (Office)
Appointed: 2/6/01
Re-Appointed: 5/3/05 and 5/6/09
Term Expires: 12/31/12
Independent

Department of Natural Resources
Executive Division
Attention: Debbie Whipple
P.O. BOX 30028
Lansing, MI 48909
517-373-2352
[email protected]

This is a quick little letter I wrote that you are free to use in whole or in part at your own discretion.

rjrivero
address
city, ST ZIP

October 10, 2011

Mary C. Brown
1624 Grand Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
269-344-0536

For the removal of silencer restrictions for hunters in Michigan.

Ms. Brown,

I am writing you this letter to request consideration for legalizing Silencers for use in Michigan for Hunting. As you may be aware, on September 2, 2011, the Attorney General Bill Schutte wrote an opinion letter that provides a proper transfer stamp from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Firearms Branch is indeed approval for an individual to own and use silencers in Michigan. (Opinion #7260)

However, as you know, The Wildlife Conservation Order Chapter 2.1 (6) states a person may not possess or use a silencer while hunting in Michigan.

Up to this point it hasn't been an issue for someone wanting to hunt in Michigan, because Michigan didn't allow for private silencer ownership. However, in light of the Attorney General Schutte's opinion #7260, it may be prudent to review this restriction and remove it from The Wildlife Conservation Orders.

Silencers or suppressors do NOT make a gun shot “quiet” per se. A good silencer can reduce a typical hunting rifle gunshot from 160dB to about 130dB. A 30dB reduction is approximately the same as a good pair of ear plugs or ear muffs. The benefit is that many hunters do not like to use ear plugs or ear muffs because they can not hear game approaching. However, it becomes a health liability not to shoot without hearing protection.

Silencers would also reduce sound pollution for our neighbors in and around hunting land in Michigan.

There are 19 states in the Union that allow unrestricted use of silencers while hunting. I urge you to make Michigan the 20th.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

rjrivero

 

[A strange person]

What was the point of legalizing suppressors if you cannot use them for hunting? Did they legalize them so that one may discreetly eliminate rival drug lords, or engage in more successful shooting sprees?

"Dear Ms. Brown, thank you for legalizing silencers. Now I can snipe pedestrians within city limits with impunity, and without having to worry about possessing an illegally modified weapon! Maybe I'll only get two life sentences."

What a riot.

Partially off-topic: my Winchester 1892 .44MAG with subsonic 200 gr. bullets is pretty gosh darn quiet.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

^ there are many legal uses for firearms and supressors other than hunting. Personally I value my hearing, and would take any legal measures to ensure it lasts til I'm dead.

 

[A strange person]

^ there are many legal uses for firearms and supressors other than hunting. Personally I value my hearing, and would take any legal measures to ensure it lasts til I'm dead.

I guess I don't know what you mean. You don't need them for target practice or competitions because you can just wear hearing protection. The other two uses are shooting animals and shooting people. I suppose keeping a can on an HD weapon would be sensible. (note to self: look into shotgun silencers.)

 

[HGUNHNTR]

I guess I don't know what you mean. You don't need them for target practice or competitions because you can just wear hearing protection.

Obviously you haven't spent much time at an indoor range. If everyone could use a supressor and hearing protection it would be quite a benefit. I would also love to have a supressor for teaching new shooters. Typically the blast and noise are what induces flinching, and creates an unpleasant experience. Also I would just rather shoot a quieter gun, regardless of whether you think I should or not. Hell I don't need to enter competitions, I could just throw rocks at paper targets in my basement.

 

[Owen Sparks]

The problem with silencers is that most of the voting public has never seen a real one.

The only thing that most people know about silencers is what they see on TV and in the movies where silencers are ALWAYS used by criminals and evil assassins as a way quietly murder people without getting caught.

The truth is that if any other device made such a noise the law would require a silencing device like they require mufflers on car tail pipes.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

^ Add heat shields to the list of evil safety features. Rediculous.

 

[bearcreek]

What was the point of legalizing suppressors if you cannot use them for hunting? Did they legalize them so that one may discreetly eliminate rival drug lords, or engage in more successful shooting sprees?

"Dear Ms. Brown, thank you for legalizing silencers. Now I can snipe pedestrians within city limits with impunity, and without having to worry about possessing an illegally modified weapon! Maybe I'll only get two life sentences."

What a riot.

Partially off-topic: my Winchester 1892 .44MAG with subsonic 200 gr. bullets is pretty gosh darn quiet.

Best reason in the world to legalize suppressors is the fact that there's no good reason for them to be illegal. In fact, I would contend that banning or limiting them is a 2A violation.

 

[A strange person]

Obviously you haven't spent much time at an indoor range.

Nor will I ever.

Best reason in the world to legalize suppressors is the fact that there's no good reason for them to be illegal.

Good enough for me.