Gun control group: Suppressor sales numbers proves regulation works

By Chris Eger

Gun rights and industry groups say suppressor deregulation is in the best interest of safety, namely hearing protection. Gun control advocates disagree. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
National gun control advocates cite the news of record sales of suppressors as proof that current regulations are not burdensome and should be retained.
Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group formed by former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband Capt. Mark Kelly, said Wednesday that recently released data illustrating a marked rise in the numbers of suppressors in circulation makes the argument they should be deregulated to increase access to the devices moot.
The response comes after the latest ATF Firearms Commerce Report showed the numbers of National Firearm Act-regulated items at an all-time high — including a 50 percent increase in suppressors registered since the previous report. Giffords’ group holds the upward trend refutes the firearms industry’s contention that the sound moderating devices should be removed from the NFA’s purview to allow greater use as safety devices.
“It’s no accident that the number of silencers registered with ATF has more than quadrupled in the past seven years, from just over 285,000 in 2010 to over 1,360,000 in 2016,” said Peter Ambler, executive director of the group. “Aggressive

Source: Guns.com