American Suppressor Association Straightens Record on Organization, HPA
Anyone who follows Modern Rifleman specifically or suppressors in general undoubtedly saw the anonymous letter I recently received regarding the American Suppressor Association (ASA) and the Hearing Protection Act (HPA). For those who missed it, the unnamed author was allegedly a member of the ASA and a suppressor manufacturer who accused the ASA of misleading the public on the likelihood of HPA’s passing. The sender, also called the ASA woefully inexperienced and understaffed. Given the popularity of suppressors these days, the letter caused one heck of a stir.
Last week, the ASA released a formal response the help clarify the issue. I’ve shared their letter below and will have a few quick comments afterward.
The most noteworthy thing about this letter and the one I previously published is that they aren’t mutually exclusive, at least not totally. It seems the anonymous note was at least partly correct about the size and clout of the ASA. Though the organization has the backing of some of the industries top companies, full-time participation is limited to efforts from Miller and Williams.
That said, the ASA’s response comes off as measured and reasonable. Certainly, we ARE all on the same side in this matter (at least all of us who are firearms enthusiasts). It’s also true that the ASA themselves haven’t explicitly stated that the HPA would pass in the first 100 days of the Trump Presidency. Much of that has been creative wordsmithing from writers and other gun owners. Sure, the ASA could have done a better job in setting expectations, but once momentum got rolling in the pass-HPA-quickly direction, it would have been nigh impossible to halt.
I’ve also come to accept other explanations for the downturn in silencer sales since the election. In fact, I’d say the HPA is tertiary to ATF 41F and the current wait times as far as drivers go. As easy as places like Silencer Shop have made post-41F buying, there are still loads of people who have effectively given up on NFA items since the changes went in last July. Moreover, wait times for Form 4 approvals from the ATF are approaching the one year mark. No one wants hundreds of dollars tied up for months with nothing to show for it. My unscientific assessment based on feedback from other enthusiasts is that these two issues have probably done more to damage the suppressor industry than the HPA.
In the end, the HPA story for most of us should remain unchanged by either of these letters. Groups like the ASA and NRA have taken the first important steps to put the bill in play. Now, we need to hammer our representatives to move it along.
An information security professional by day and gun blogger by night, Nathan started his firearms journey at 16 years old as a collector of C&R rifles. These days, you’re likely to find him shooting something a bit more modern – and usually equipped with a suppressor – but his passion for firearms with military heritage has never waned. Over the last five years, Nathan has written about a variety of firearms topics, including Second Amendment politics and gun and gear reviews. When he isn’t shooting or writing, Nathan nerds out over computers, 3D printing, and Star Wars.