As expected, on Friday, November 21, 2014, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to lift the ban on the use of silenced guns and pistols for the elimination of deer, gray squirrels, rabbits, wild turkeys, quail and crows. The use of silencers on shotguns, rifles, and pistols for all other hunts was not prohibited in Florida. Thirty-two states already allow silencers for all hunting. The hunters had asked FWC to allow mufflers in more circumstances, and the agency found that restrictions on the use of mufflers for hunting were no longer necessary. Today, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously to lift the 57-year-old ban on using gun suppressors to ingest deer, gray squirrels, rabbits, wild turkeys, quail and crows. Following the adoption of the new regulation, the Commission then voted unanimously to approve an implementing regulation so that the measure could take effect immediately. A few minutes later, Decree #EO 14-32 was signed, making hunting with oppressors legal for all animals in the state with immediate effect. The increasing use of silencers for punching and training, as well as for hunting, has proven beneficial, not only for hearing protection, but also for eliminating disturbance to neighbors in shooting activity areas. Hunters said using more silencers would encourage more teens to hunt and protect their hearing.
“There was no zombie apocalypse because of the oppressors,” Yablonski added. “To hear is to believe. It still makes a lot of noise. Florida already allows silencers under certain circumstances. They are allowed on shotguns for all hunts. They are also allowed on rifles and pistols on private property for hunting pigs, furbearers, armadillos and animals other than game. Weapons regulated by the NFA include short-barreled shotguns and shotguns, machine guns, destructive devices, and silencers. See myfwc.com/hunting/regulations/taking-game/ After the vote, Executive Order FWC #EO 14-32 was signed to immediately lift the ban, making the use of mufflers legal for the remainder of the hunting season. Oppressors are legal in 39 states. They are a great training aid and they are fun to shoot. If the merchant is notified by the BATF that the purchase has been approved, the buyer pays a transfer fee of $200 and takes the suppressor home.
Much of the legislation was a reaction to the “gangster” era, when criminals used Thompson machine guns to ravage disgruntled citizens. Because fully automatic weapons, short-barrelled weapons, and silencers were the most acute threats, Congress severely restricted their ability to belong to citizens, even those who had never committed a crime in their lives. Form 4 also requires a law enforcement certificate – the signature of a “chief enforcement officer” – from a sheriff or chief of police. Many CLEOs routinely refuse to sign public requests from oppressors or machine guns. Neither Florida law nor the Florida administrative code restrict the use of silencers on private land to capture varmint, furbearing animals, non-native wildlife. In addition, suppressors can be used to capture wild boar on public lands that are not classified as a wildlife management area or wildlife and environmental area. First, although state law now allows hunting with oppressors, they are still heavily regulated by the federal government. With the lifting of the ban, Florida joins thirty-two other states where hunting with oppressors is safe and legal.
If the buyer cannot obtain a signature from CLEO, they can pay a lawyer to create an “NFA Trust”. Once this legal trust is established, the buyer must still complete a Form 4, but no signature or fingerprint and photo of CLEO is required. Florida averages about 10 gun-related hunting incidents per year, with an average of one death per year, Diane Eggeman, FWC`s director of hunting and game management, said via email. “No reported incident has ever involved a gun with an oppressor,” Eggeman said. Just because Class 3 gun sales are now legal doesn`t mean they`re comfortable or even realistic for the average gun owner. Requirements include: The legal acquisition of an oppressor is a long process. The buyer must go to a licensed Title II gun dealer, pay for the device, and complete a BATF 4 form – a four-sided application used each time a firearm regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA) is sold or “transferred.” The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission unanimously approved a draft rule that removes state restrictions on the use of silencers for game hunting. We make buying a muffler as simple as 1-2-3 with a streamlined process that`s not intimidating.
Dealing with the government and its regulations is enough to discourage even the most accomplished shooting enthusiasts. Silencer Central makes it easy to own a silencer. We do all the work for you by helping you choose the right muffler for you, digitally manage all documents and ship them to your door after approval! Under Florida law, mufflers are completely legal. Previous laws prohibited the use of silencers for hunting, but this is now allowed. Mufflers are governed by the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934. The process of legal acquisition of a suppressor is a federal process controlled by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or “ATF” as it is more commonly known.
