As an ardent sportsman, hunter and range enthusiast, I have experienced the inconvenience of using hearing protection whilst shooting. It's an inconvenience when we have to remove our protective gear to interact with each other. It's detrimental to our well-being and takes away from the essence of our joyous activity. The ATF regulation that requires law-abiding citizens to produce a heap of legal documents and pay a $200 tax stamp is a costly toll on a simple shooting accessory.

Suppressors not only protect our hearing but enhance safety at shooting ranges by reducing distracting noise that could lead to errors. The Science et al. study (2017) established that using suppressors results in a significant decrease in noise exposure during shooting. It does not, as is popularly believed, make guns silent or pose a threat to public safety.

The SHUSH ACT and Hearing Protection Act propose the reevaluation of these restrictions. They represent a hope for us to enjoy shooting activities without the costly burdens imposed by the ATF regulation. Granting us the freedom to use suppressors instead of hearing muffs might seem like a small change, but it can dramatically improve our experiences and safety at ranges and in the fields.

Therefore, we urge our representatives to prioritize these bills and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens who responsibly engage in shooting activities. We seek the right to choose safety for our ears without the costly and unnecessary hindrance posed by current regulations. Please stand with us as we push for the deregulation of suppressors and sign this petition. Your support is paramount in our pursuit of a more enjoyable and safer shooting environment.

I was recently at my local Gun Range a few weekends ago with my son teaching him Gun Safety. We were enjoying the range even though it was very loud under the shed over the shooting benches. Next to us was a father and his daughter doing the same thing, except he forgot to bring his daughters hearing protection so therefore she was forced to hold her ears while her daddy shot and he’d hold her ears while she shot. I had an extra pair of shooting muffs in the car so I gave them to the little girl. She was so excited and her father thanked me several times. Passing this bill so we can own suppressors without all the headaches of forms, fingerprints, passport photos, and $200 tax stamp just to protect our hearing would be a major step in saving our young ones hearing. A lot of times especially shooting a long gun with a scope, when you lay your cheek on the rest to look thru the scope it presses the hearing muff away from your ear causing you to hear the loudness of the gunshot, therefore causing ringing in the ear. Please help us get this passed. Thank you all for taking the time to read this story. God Bless you all God Bless America and God Bless the Second Amendment!!