Senate GOP seeks to remove safeguards on gun silencers & sawed-off shotguns

WASHINGTON — GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, condemned the newly released Senate reconciliation bill for removing silencers, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns from the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934. Nearly 100 years ago, Congress enacted registration, background checks and fees for these weapons because of the magnitude of their dangerousness and the regularity with which they were used in crime.

“Across the country, we hear from Americans who are afraid to leave their homes and Republicans in Washington are showing us why. We’re mere hours away from the stalking and murdering of Minnesota legislators, and some Republicans are still taking their orders from greedy gun industry CEOs,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown. “Voters sent lawmakers to Washington to protect their families, not make life easier for hitmen. No one is better off if killers have silencers and sawed-off shotguns except the people who make money selling them. Americans are sick of this.”

Silencers, also known as “suppressors,” obstruct law enforcement efforts to quickly and effectively respond to active shooters since they make it more difficult to recognize the sound of gunfire and locate the source of gunshots. They also mask muzzle flash and reduce recoil, increasing the risk of multiple-casualty shootings. Short barreled rifles are particularly lethal because they can fire high-velocity rounds but can also be easily concealed.