This page preserves a discussion thread from the original AirgunOne.com community forum, active from 2008 until the site went offline. It's republished here for reference, in full, including the community banter. This is a 2010 discussion of a topic where laws have changed since and vary by state, check current law rather than relying on this thread. If you're a contributor to this thread and would like something removed or credited differently, contact info@airgunguide.com.
Community Discussion
stilkikin wrote: "^that^."
Pete wrote: "I do.. Pete"
lampy wrote: "Air strippers, muzzle brakes, silencers....... chat away"
Amigo wrote: "Please be aware that in the U.S. ignorance of the law is not a defense. Ignorance of the law can only be raised during the extenuation and mitigation portion of a trial."
Speedturtle posted the forum's official position: "AirgunOne.com Terms and Conditions of Use... By Registering on AirgunOne.com you agree to the following site rules: [general conduct rules omitted here for brevity] ...Suppressors/Silencers — The discussion of suppressors or any devices used to moderate/reduce the muzzle report of an airgun (herein referred to as suppressor[s]) is not illegal. You may discuss suppressors all you like, but please refrain from discussing the making of suppressors on AirgunOne.com, as well as posting photos and/or urls with instructions on making suppressors. ... A muzzle brake is different from a suppressor if designed accordingly. It is just a hollow tube that acts as an added weight for airguns to aid in cocking and in general applications to protect the crown of the barrel."
moe1942 wrote: "It's refreshing to see common sense applied.. Kinda rare these days.."
Bentong wrote: "it looks like this!"
Fix wrote: "when Jon and i set up this site silencers was never an issue."
lampy wrote: "I wouldn't think talking about silencers is going to hurt anyone, freedom of speech and all. I may be missing something here but I have no problem with anyone talking about silencers, I would more than likely read the thread. Include pics like Bentongs and I will definatly read. I see AG's for sale with what I would call a 'Silencer', Gamo's Silent Cat for example....... So whats the big deal?????"
Speedturtle replied: "I may be wrong on this one but this what I only know so far: If the item described as 'silencer' or sound moderator is INTEGRAL to the design of the gun or the rifle and is 'permanently' installed then it can be considered acceptable. If, for any other reason that it can be taken off then that is where you'll get into big, big trouble. I believe this is the idea why Gamo was 'able' to promote and get off with their Whisper series of airguns since it is 'permanently' installed on the barrel using an injection molded approach by coating the barrel with a polymer compound to house the baffles. If it where not so, common sense will tell you that they'll be haunted by the law for sure. As the forum has detailed it for us we can talk about it but don't discuss how to make one. You can describe your airgun as one having a moderator and that's it. Don't expound any further. Otherwise we'll just be flaming this topic out of proportion benefiting none at all."
Amigo wrote: "The law, in some states of the U.S., is more restrictive than federal law. For example the Gamo Whisper can not be legally sold in Michigan."
headhunter asked: "so if i were to weld a 'silencer' onto the muzzle of my .22 marlin would that be legal since it can't come off?"
Bentong replied: "Now you have a powderburner that you can't use for hunting!"
headhunter wrote: "damnit! forget that idea then"
airgunhunter850 wrote: "in NH you can use a silencer on rimfire and airrifles but thats it"
Amigo wrote: "In California people can use 'maryjane' too, but that does not mean the feds can't 'bust' the seller or user."
arbantelope wrote: "Ya buddy, California is strict on silencers. Cheaper to go down for the maryjane. ;-) [link to a legal reference site] Key statement from the content in above link... 'An interesting Catch-22 twist is that, as noted, silencers are legally defined as firearms and thus a silencer on, or as part of an airgun, comes back into the jurisdiction of the BATF, and it will only be a matter of time before some BATF agent acts on that basis!' This site seems to be under the influence. Alan - NorCal"
Verado wrote: "The way I am to understand the law in the states....if it can be removed from the gun, even with a cutting torch or chopsaw it's illegal. The rest of the world they are ok, they are OK if they are sold from the manufacturer but not an add on item. Hence the terms, air stripper, crown protector, or LDC. Some items may look like a moderator, but do nothing other then add eye candy. I could be wrong, but if you find a link to somebody saying...'make a silencer in your basement' then chances are it's going to get you in trouble if Johnny Law. A good example would be the RWS 'compensator' that pyramidair sells. I have one on my 850 airmagnum and when the gun was stock.....let's just say the term, mouse fart comes to mind."
donw wrote: "one must be careful in the state of California. ANY device that redirects, muffles, or changes the sound or the report of a firearm may be construed as a 'silencer' at the discretion of the DOJ/ATF, detachable or not. It's even questionable about 'shrouds' that are red loctited/epoxied and even drilled and pinned onto barrels; it depends on the 'definition of removable' and that 'definition' is usually determined by the state/county/city, NOT the user/owner. To some, 'removable' does even include having to cut with a torch... that's but another way to 'lock' a law. I have a combination brake/flash hider for my 10/22 but i will not attach it to the rifle because it's a semi-auto; semi-auto rifles and handguns are targeted by the state of California. I know it for fact, it is NOT illegal to have the muzzle of a rifle threaded here, but a handgun barrel muzzle threaded is a big time NO-NO, as an example. California has very complex laws pertaining to firearms, their use, ownership and possession. While by and large, airguns are generally not considered as, technically, being firearms, they may be considered as being 'destructive devices' and regulated/controlled as being such. Check state, county and local laws/ordinances. I go by: 'in California, if you have to ask if it's illegal, it probably is.' For the biggest part, i have a very low opinion of legislators; they're the ones responsible."
skiball83 wrote: "Guys look, Supressors are legal in certain states. As long as you live in a state that lets you have one the rules are, first you must register with the BATF. Then you have to pay a $200 tax for each unit. Then you are legal. So talking about the manufacturing or production of a surpressor is completely legal. Hope this helps."
Pete wrote: "PMSL.... Over here yer buy one from a gun shop, no licence required... put it on yer gun then take it into the cop shop to show them how kool it looks.. All they can do is smile... Pete"
DaveShooter replied: "You are lucky man Pete. I wish it was eaiser to obtain here in the USA without having to pay a tax and register with the batf on powder burners. I am hearing impared and would love to have one on my cz452 ultra-lux but i am not going to go through all that red tape to do so. That is why I like the Marauder so much, no hassle to have to deal with from the atf. ATF doesn't consider airguns to be firearms or powder-burners. I even got worried when I was nutter hunting last fall here in Ohio with my 22 cal Mrod because of the shrouded barrel. So I called my local ATF office in Cinn, Ohio, talked to a real nice agent, he did some checking with higher ups, called me back and told me I was fine to own and hunt with the Marauder. #1, I wanted to be safe not sorry and I didn't want to be accused of breaking any laws state or federal. I do worry though, in the future, will our air guns be out-lawed with a fixed type suppressor the way the laws change state and fed wise. I do know in Mich I think airguns are considered under firearm state laws and please don't hold me too that statement."
Tags
airgun law · suppressors · sound moderators · legal discussion · state law