I propose replacing the term "suppressor" or "silencer" with "muffler".

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jlbraun

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In light of some people on this board's effort to make suppressors Title 1 devices instead of NFA devices (who are you? I can't find the thread), I propose replacing the term "suppressor" and its more inaccurate "silencer" with "muffler".

Why?

Everyone already knows what a muffler is on a car.

Everyone knows that "mufflers" don't make cars completely silent.

It aligns their purpose with that of car mufflers, eg. not having one is a hazard to hearing, and municipalities require the use of mufflers.

(dons flamesuit)
 
(Please don't take this a flame. It is just an honest opinion)

I actually think it is a bad idea and here is why. The terms "silencer" and "suppressor" are defined by the BATFE and if someone made a can that reduces or muffles the sound of a firearm discharge and called it a "muffler," the BATFE would just say that a "muffler" is by their own definition a "silencer."

The problem with this is that it makes it appear as we are playing semantic games to try to get something we want. We are above this. This is a tactic that gun-grabbers use all the time. We have something that gun-grabbers don't, the facts, logic and statistics behind us.

I think it is best to stand on our integrity and work to use these facts, statistics and logic to continue to educate the ignorant rather than appear to use the same tricks our opponents do.
 
I think the idea has merit.

If the device works like in a James Bond movie, it deserves to be called a "silencer".

Few people who do not themselves shoot know what a "suppressor" is in this context.
 
call it a barrel extension with with sound dampening effects. You know you cant have a barrel too long for anti's.
 
I believe we should start a recall of any law that bans "muzzle mounted hearing protection." Many shooting ranges have difficulty with their neighbors due to noise. Sound suppressors would go a long way towards being a good neighbor. Also if I am forced to shoot inside my house I would much prefer to save what is left of my hearing.
 
Don't do it.
It would deprive people whose only joy in life is pointing out that there is no real "silencer", they should all be called "suppressors". A little higher class than the experts who live to tell you the difference between "clip" and "magazine". (But who routinely load their ammunition feeding devices with "bullets.")
 
this is a good idea

I was thinking the same thing lately. Maybe calling then "Hearing Conservation devices" or putting a big sticker that says "Environmental Noise Pollution Reduction Act Compliant".

To go with the above sticker, labelling all other barrels with a big sticker that says "EPA Noise Reduction NON-Compliant" might get the attention of the average NFA-fence-sitter who walks into a gun shop and says, well gee whizz I want one that IS compliant. Presto! A whole new class of folks who INSIST on having one on their firearms.

C-
 
How about "bang-diminisher"?
A muffler could be interpreted as one of these.

Muffler.jpg
 
Cannonball888, that's exactly what we want. "Mufflers" are blue, fuzzy, and protect hearing. "Silencers" are used by assassins.

I really want to see a bill to remove "mufflers" from the NFA called the "Child Hearing Protection Act" comprised of:

-Instant-read, wall-mounted dBA meters are hereby tax-exempt
-Power tools and such shall recieve a tax reduction if they have a dBA value imprinted on them or in the safety manual
-All earplugs recieve tax-exempt status
...
(insert 30 more tax exemptions)
...
oh, and suppressors are removed from the NFA. Seeya. :evil:
 
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The term 'firearm muffler' is already defined in the CGA of 1968, sec 921(a)(24)

The terms "firearm silencer" and "firearm muffler" mean any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, and any part intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication.
 
As in most threads of this type you can propose anything you want but getting the rest of the world to accept your proposal is another thing.
 
Over here I usually hear 'moderator' or 'sound moderator' or just 'mod' by those in the know. I like it, as it implies a moderate and sensible approach :D

Oh and I know this is a little OT, but are moderators/supressors built into guns NFA-exempt over there? Here if you want a can on your Section 1 or 5 firearm you need to ask for permission to do so via a firearm certificate application or variation application. However, if you are allowed (say) a .22LR bolt-action and you buy one with a built-in moderator, you do not need special permission.
 
I think it's not a bad idea. Though I imagine the antis would just say we're trying to trick people and that mufflers are still just for killing people.
 
mufflers are still just for killing people
Click to expand...

And that's why it works! "What? Car mufflers are for killing people? That's really stupid. Who are these Brady idiots, anyway?"
 
Muffler... muffler... hmm...

A bunch of dirty thoughts just crept into my head.

I'll stick with the NFA suppressors.

We could call revolvers rotators.

I'm not a big fan of this semantics game. Now, calling pistol gripped semi-auto rifles with detachable stocks and mags, "assault weapons," - semantics?
 
Muffler is less "scary" sounding than silencer, so I like it. Non-gun people usually don't know what I'm talking about when I say suppressor and I hate saying silencer since it's incorrect.
Can we rename muzzle brakes/compensators to "loudeners"?

Maybe we can get OSHA to attack the NFA for restricting us from protecting our hearing and subjecting us to unsafe sound levels :)
 
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