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Florida May Expand Use Of Silencers For Hunting, Including For Deer
September 11, 2014
Hunting game in Florida could become a little less noisy by the end of the year.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday advanced a proposal that would remove a prohibition on the use of noise-suppressors, or silencers, with rifles and pistols when hunting deer, gray squirrels, rabbits, wild turkeys, quail and crows.
The proposal will now be advertised in the Florida Administrative Register, and the commission is expected to vote on the new rule in November.
While critics said muzzling rifle shots could increase the risk of people being struck by wayward bullets or cause people to wander unaware into hunting areas, backers of the proposal said such concerns are unfounded.
Commissioner Brian Yablonski noted that suppressors take out some of the big bang and recoil, but they don’t silence weapons as depicted in the movies.
“It still makes a very loud sound and this was in all cases,” Yablonski said during a commission meeting in Kissimmee. “We’re talking louder than a rock concert, louder than a jackhammer with the suppressor.”
Commission staff, hunters and a representative from the suppressor industry defended the proposal as a means to protect hunters’ hearing, lessen the impact of hunting on others and even help while introducing people to the sport.
Knox Williams, president of the American Suppressor Association, estimated that 40,000 suppressors are already owned in Florida.
Florida currently allows the use of suppressors on shotguns for game hunting. A suppressor can also be placed on a rifle or pistol when hunting on private lands for non-game wildlife, which includes hogs, furbearers and armadillos.
Buck Holly, an owner of C&H Precision Weapons in LaBelle, projected that by lifting the ban, sales of suppressors at his Hendry County business would grow from about two to five a month to up to 10 a month. He said that would allow him to add one or two jobs.
“I know in most counties one to two jobs isn’t a big blip on the radar, but in Hendry and Glades counties, one or two is a tremendous economic boost,” Holly said.
Patricia Brigham, chair of the League of Women Voters’ Gun Safety Committee, cautioned that a proliferation of silencers would reduce public safety.
“They’re going to be used in such a way that they’re not intended to be used, which is to harm other human beings,” Brigham warned. “There are more important things than protecting the hearing of a hunter, than encouraging a young person to hunt … the more important thing is the errant bullet catching the sleeve of a nearby hiker, penetrating the skin of nearby hiker, penetrating the heart of a nearby hiker.”
Katherine McGill, a founding member of the National Urban Wildlife Coalition, said more time should be given to the review.
“I have no problem with suppressors personally. If someone is target-shooting near my property I’d be glad that they are using them. I’d like them to be put on fireworks, too,” McGill said. “But I don’t want to be riding my horse in the woods and not hear that hunter out there.”
Suppressors are allowed in 32 states for all hunting.
Division of Hunting and Game Management Director Diane Eggeman said lifting the prohibition isn’t expected to lead to a widespread proliferation of the use of suppressors. She estimated a rifle suppressor costs between $750 and $2,000, while individuals also have to pay $200 for a federal criminal background check.
Holly placed the cost for most suppressors between $450 and $1,000.
by Jim Turner, The News Service
Comments
14 Responses to “Florida May Expand Use Of Silencers For Hunting, Including For Deer”
Silencers for small game (squirrels and such) have been in use for decades in many parts of Europe. Some areas even require them as to not bother others with the excessive noise. More night hunting? This is an illegal activity to begin with. Anyone with the money can legally own silencers. Legalizing them for hunting will not change what a criminal will do.
Please Note; These organizations that are against silencers are usually aligned against guns and hunting. So you need to ask, what is their real agenda. To Old Man; Keep your dogs on your own property. When they come on mine, it’s open season on dogs. I have food plots, and feeders, and I don’t even hunt, but when dogs come on my property to chase deer off, they are the invaders. For these reasons, I wish Florida would either outlaw dog hunting, or enact stiff fines for violating peoples property rights.
bad idea there’s enough crooked stuff going on now there will be more night hunting more shooting and murders
REGARDING:
“A supersonic round cannot be silenced.”
It isn’t very directional of a sound, though, is it?
I don’t personally care.
I’m not planning on shooting animals and if I ever have to shoot a person, I want him to know about it.
David for blessed silence
Suppressors have been in FL for years and nobody has shot another person with one on a weapon, and I don’t see that starting ice they allow hunting.. As well as the fact that bullets traveling faster than the speed of sound will still “crack” once they break the sound barrier. You’ll need subsonic ammo to hunt with, a lot of manufacturers sell this for certain calibers.
Do they work on mother in laws?
Wonder who will benefit from this ridiculous proposal? Oh wait, I see now who will benefit.
“Knox Williams, president of the American Suppressor Association”
and of course….
“Buck Holly, an owner of C&H Precision Weapons in LaBelle, projected that by lifting the ban, sales of suppressors at his Hendry County business would grow from about two to five a month to up to 10 a month”
Politics and lobbyist doing what they do best….
Silencers for hunting? Seriously? What’s next, full auto .50 cals? Hand greneades for fishing so you don’t have to mess that annoying rod and reel? There is absolutely no reason anyone needs a silencer to hunt deer, gray squirrels, OR armadillos.
$750 to $2000 plus another $200!!!!!!
That’s out of my price range, looks like I’ll stick with the old $.50 ear plugs
Question for OldMan: Why do you put out your dogs to run through private property? How many dogs have to die before you become a responsible dog owner?
Old Man…..Your dog’s may be mistaken for coyotes or a fox. Word of advise you should probably keep your dog’s on your property!
There is a lot of statements of opinion by people that have no knowledge or have an agenda to suppress the facts.
Suppressors are not silencers. They cut down on the boom from the powder charge only. Suppressors have no effect on the supersonic boom of the bullet as it travels. When using subsonic ammunition which travels much slower limiting it’s range and usefulness as a hunting tool, it is a good bit less noisy, but still with a noticeable report.
Anyone worried about hikers or anyone else being shot with a firearm with a suppressor would do well to consider the speed that a bullet travels. Bu the time you hear anything the bullet has long since arrived. People would be well advised to make themselves aware of hunting seasons and areas before wondering around in remote areas. Accidental shootings by hunters and target shooters are so low that it hardly merits mentioning compared to other causes of death and injury.
Statics prove that there are many things that cause more death and injury than firearms at any age. So what is behind all the fear talk…….. Surely not facts.
The term assault weapon refers to a fully automatict weapon that continues to fire as long as the trigger is held back and requires a Federal license and full background check. It does not mean a look alike weapon any more than a car with racing stripes being ready for the Daytona 500.
Please get educated or hold the emotional ranting.
Now thats just great, I bet these Bay Springs guys will love that, they won’t have to bring their bow’s to kill my dogs next year. Killed 5 of them last year.
Thanks Guys
A supersonic round cannot be silenced.
The .45 ACP round is subsonic, but not suitable for harvesting deer. The round works great in machine pistols fitted with suppressors. You can actually hear the bolt cycle.