On February 11, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted 4 – 1 to approve an amended version of Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment No. 1 of 2016, which allows the use of firearm sound suppressors while hunting. Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) staff testified in favor of the Amendment before the Commission and has been working diligently with partners to expand suppressor hunting nationwide. While sportsmen and women in the Great Lake State already enjoyed the right to own a suppressor, Michigan is now the 38th state to allow suppressor use while afield.
On February 23, the Iowa House of Representatives took one step closer to legalizing suppressor ownership in the Hawkeye State, passing HF 2279 (formally HB 2043) with substantial bipartisan support and a vote of 74 – 24. Forty-one states currently allow suppressor ownership.
Firearm suppressors are often misrepresented in popular culture. In reality, it is an innovative technology that protects the hearing of recreational shooters, hunters and their dogs, reduces noise pollution, and increases accuracy.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
