The American Suppressor Association (ASA) has been on the move this August, making strides in the fight for faster suppressor approvals and the protection of 2A rights.
The team made two trips to Washington, D.C., sat down with the NFA division in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and received a long-awaited update on the Illinois lawsuit challenging the state’s suppressor ban.
To start, let’s talk about the latest on wait times. As of July 1st, the average eForm 4 wait time for individuals was 60 days, and for NFA trusts, it was 155 days.
By August 1st, those numbers shifted to 69 days for individuals and 145 days for trusts. Silencer Shop reports that individual applicants are seeing wait times between 1 day and 4.5 months, with a median wait of just 6 days.
Trust applications are taking between 1 day and 5 months, with a median wait of 64 days, a big improvement from last month’s 107-day median.
For those experiencing delays, the culprit is often the FBI background check, which affects 20% to 30% of applications. The best way to avoid delays is by including a Social Security number and, if applicable, a UPIN on the Form 4.
These simple steps could be the difference between getting a suppressor in days or waiting months!
ASA continues to fight to eliminate these wait times, believing that suppressor ownership is a constitutionally protected right. The goal is to ensure that buying a suppressor becomes as straightforward as purchasing any other firearm, with no unnecessary delays.
On August 20th, ASA leadership met with the NFA division in Martinsburg to discuss improvements to the NFA transfer process. Much of the conversation focused on the FBI background check, which remains outside the ATF’s control but is a significant source of delays.
The ASA appreciates the efforts of NFA Division Chief Steven Albro and his team, who have made substantial improvements over the past nine months. While progress has been made, there’s still more work to be done.
In Illinois, there has finally been an update on Anderson v. Raoul, the ASA-backed lawsuit challenging the state’s suppressor ban. Judge Dugan held a status update hearing on August 21st and decided that the case should remain on hold while Barnett v. Raoul—which challenges Illinois’ assault weapons ban—moves forward.
A bench trial for Barnett begins on September 16th, and once a decision is made, the court will revisit the suppressor case. Optimism remains high, and ASA will provide updates as the situation develops.
For those who want to support the legal fight, tickets are available for the Silent Night Banquet in Austin, Texas, on October 30th. Funds raised will help fuel more lawsuits to make suppressors legal in all 50 states. Tickets can be purchased at asabanquet.com.
ASA is also proud to be part of Task Force Expedition, a new nonprofit dedicated to supporting military, first responders, and Second Amendment rights. Earlier this month, a team of 11 climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and their journey is being turned into a documentary.
The premiere event will be held on October 24th at the King Plow Art Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Taskforceexpedition.com has details on how to donate and buy tickets for the event.
That wraps up this month’s update. Stay tuned for more developments in the fight for suppressor rights.
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