Resolution opposing H.R.367/S. 59, known as "the Hearing Protection Act of 2017," eliminating the transfer tax on firearm silencers and treating any person who acquires a firearm silencer as meeting any registration or licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act with respect to such silencer.

Resolution opposing H.R.367/S. 59, known as “the Hearing Protection Act of 2017,” eliminating the transfer tax on firearm silencers and treating any person who acquires a firearm silencer as meeting any registration or licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act with respect to such silencer.

By The Speaker (Council Member Mark-Viverito) and Council Members Gibson, Kallos, Cohen and Williams

Whereas, A firearm silencer is a device that attaches to the barrel of a firearm and reduces the amount of noise generated by firing; and

Whereas, In addition to reducing the volume of a gunshot, firearm silencers tend to alter the sound in a manner that makes the sound unidentifiable as a gunshot, thereby reducing or eliminating attention drawn to the shooter; and

Whereas, In an active shooter situation, firearm silencers make it harder for victims, bystanders and law enforcement to identify and react quickly to gunshots; and

Whereas, Law enforcement representatives have opposed the rollback of silencer safety laws because being able to hear and identify gunshots is an important safety feature and such laws are effective at keeping silencers out of the wrong hands; and

Whereas, One such law, the National Firearms Act (NFA), passed in 1934 in an effort to crack down on organized crime, requires buyers of silencers, machine guns, and other especially dangerous weapons to pass criminal background checks and comply with other common-sense safety provisions in order to buy these dangerous products; and

Whereas, H.R.367/S. 59 would remove silencers from the NFA, meaning felons, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill would be able to buy a firearm silencer with no background check; and

Whereas, New York is one of eight states that have explicitly banned any civilian from possessing a firearm silencer; and

Whereas, H.R.367/S. 59 would override state laws and block states from enforcing their own laws regarding silencers; and

Whereas, Though the bill is presented as “The Hearing Protection Act,” there is no evidence of a public health issue associated with hearing loss from gunfire; and

Whereas, There are more effective ways to protect the hearing of gun users, including readily available ear protection; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York opposes H.R. 367/S. 59, known as “the Hearing Protection Act of 2017,” eliminating the transfer tax on firearm silencers and treating any person who acquires a firearm silencer as meeting any registration or licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act with respect to such silencer.

LS11058

6/15/17