Hello, this is my first post on the forum. I grew up near Carlton MN, but left in 1983 to join the Navy. I may retire in MN in about ten years or so. In the meantime I would like to be able to bring some of my suppressed firearms to MN when on vacation there. I am a member of
http://www.silencertalk.com ; a new member there was asking for advice on making silencers legal in MN. He wanted to know what we did in WA to make them legal to use (already legal to own in WA). There is an active MN section at
http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=8&f=28 also known as ARF.com. I looked around for gun forums for MN shooters and found this one.
I make silencers on ATF form 1's as a hobby. I have made 12 so far and plan on suppressing my entire 40 plus gun collection in the years to come. It costs me about $250 on average (including the $200 tax) to make each silencer. I invested about $2000 in a lathe, welder and other tools and learned how to operate the lathe while making my first silencer for a 300 whisper. Making a decent silencer is very easy; making a very good silencer is more difficult.
The best reason for using a silencer is noise reduction. The best reason for noise reduction is to prevent injury and reduce noise pollution. Hearing loss is probably the most common injury associated with firearms use. I frequently read that people think it is ok to shoot a 22 rim fire rifle without ear plugs, or that eventually they get used to the noise. Even a 22 rim fire with subsonic ammo in a rifle is loud enough to cause hearing loss. If a person thinks they are getting used to the noise they are actually going deaf.
There will always be gun owners that are against any type of firearm that they do not own. Those kinds of people are worse than the rabid anti-gun scum that we find promoting the Brady Campaign agenda. When they say that they see no reason for a certain type of firearm, it is like they are saying it should be banned. I see that is at least one of these kinds of people posting in this thread. I am very blunt when it comes to discussing gun control and will never apologize for it.
In WA there is a law that protects rifle ranges from noise issues, but this does not prevent people from suing a rifle club over noise issues. My club (KRRC) is going through this right now. Silencers are the most effective means of reducing noise and protecting hearing. Not only do they protect the hearing of the shooter, they protect the ears of anyone nearby. While silencers increase cost, weight, bulk, heatup rate and length of a firearm, the noise reduction is usually well worth it.
Getting a bill submitted to the legislature is going to take much more than merely sending a few e-mails. Unless the legislator you send the e-mail to is your friend or is already interested in creating a bill to amend the law banning silencers, sending an e-mail is sort of like doing nothing at all. You must send real letters and make phone calls to your district Representative or Senator and meet with them face to face to convince them to submit a silencer bill. When meeting with a legislator, be sure to have your ducks in a row. Know the law, how you want to change it, why silencers are needed by civilians and why they are unlikely to cause more crime.
Be prepared to hear from gun owners and legislators that silencers are illegal in the USA, that they cause crime and are the preferred weapons of the criminal element. Some people are so obtuse or prejudiced that they will completely disregard evidence that silencers are legal or rarely associated with violent crime. With the exception of the forums at Subguns, Silencer Talk and this one ( so far), every forum I have posted on about silencers I have been accused to being a criminal or risking my freedom by talking about silencers. I have had legislators try to convince me that silencers are illegal while trying to educate them on their use. There is lots of stupid out there and guns owners are not immune either.
I want to help get 97B.031 Subd 4 changed to allow civilian ownership of silencers. Anyone interested in organizing to get the law changed? Thanks.
Ranb
My gun collection has killed at least five fewer people than the Kennedy clan has with automobiles, airplanes and golf clubs.
by hammAR on Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:18 pm 
