GEMTECH
We’ll be up in the PacNW this weekend – Friday (today!) at Wade’s in Bellevue, Saturday at Shooting Sports NW, and Boise Gun Company Saturday. Contact these dealers for details and hours, drop by, say hi!
Team GEMTECH’s long-range guys were hard at work while our sales staff had all the fun at the DFW Silencer Shoot. There’s some photos and reviews starting to float around the web from folks that looked to have had a great time at our setup in Dallas, test driving a bunch of GEMTECH kit. Meanwhile, on the east side of the country, GT-sponsored shooters were busy making a really good showing at the Woody’s DMR Match: our guys with their SANDSTORM-silenced AI’s pulled in 1st, 5th, and 2nd in various matches and stages.
*One shot / Cold bore shot match: 125 yards one shot on an Ace of Spades playing card– Team GT, 2nd place.
*Entire Long-Range Event – Team GT, 1st place
*Team Event – Team GT, 5th place (out of 65+ active duty military, police, and civilian teams.)
Not too shabby.
As an aside about the Woody’s match – Lynn and Stephen, GEMTECH-sponsored shooters, still hold the course record for that range from a couple years back – there’s a $100 bounty for any team that can top their lifetime high… but it hasn’t happened yet.
On this weekend’s first stage, they tore it up, however… the SANDSTORM was too quiet for the timer to pick up, and they had to reshoot TWICE because the timers didn’t hear them. Probably would have come in higher had that first shoot been recorded, but… well, at least people got to see how quiet those SANDSTORMs are!
Great job guys – Congrats and thanks for representing!
MINNESOTA SUPPRESSOR LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
Another grassroots success story in advancing good-sense on suppressor laws in Minnesota: We had been keeping this on the down-low for the last couple months, as this one was a bit sensitive, but it’s good to go as of today!
Chris Stafford, a longtime GEMTECH client that saw a problem that needed to be addressed, asked his representative to start a bill, and this is the result.
Historically, Minnesota has been one of the worst offenders in restricting the access to firearm-mounted hearing protection. There have even been roadblocks making it hard to obtain sound suppressors for even their own law enforcement departments, whose employees are exposed to firearms noise as a condition of their employment, not just by recreational choice. There have been positive changes to allow very narrow categories of suppressor ownership (some wildlife agencies, law enforcement, etc.), but not even dealers could possess them to demonstrate them *to* these agencies. GEMTECH couldn’t even “import” our own silencers into the state, so have subcontracted under manufacturing variance for companies like DPMS to get our product into Minnesota.
Today’s law change now advances Minnesota dealers to possess and sell to authorized clients. Baby steps for certain, and nowhere near the freedoms we’d like to see in the Gopher State, but we believe that the more commonplace suppressors are, the myths and misperceptions about them will start to erode, leading to increased freedoms to everyone. Minnesota’s got a long way to go towards a “greener” approach to abating firearm noise, but this is a step in the right direction.
Mike Benson is the Representative that got things moving there on the House side, and Senator Bill Englebritson on the Senate.
Federally licensed firearm importers, manufacturers and dealers firearm silencers possession and sale to authorized law enforcement agencies, military and other licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers authorization
Video of Chris’ testimony is here, about twenty minutes in:
Bill Status 2125 and companion April 16, HB 1816 passed, and companion SB2125 passed – both went off to the governor and were signed today!
We’re pleased to be participating in the “Silencers Are Legal” shoot and show this month in Dallas, TX. Silencer manufacturers from around the country will be descending on the Elm Fork range to let folks check out and shoot their wares and get the positive message out about suppressor benefits. $15 tickets at the door for a range pass, some vendors will have silenced firearms to try for nominal ammo fees, or you can bring your own suppressed firearms to shoot and show off.
Host Range info: www.elmfork.com Event hours 9:00am to 6:00pm Saturday April 28, 2012.
Team GEMTECH will be bringing their usual frolic and fun – come by, say hi, try out some GT kit first hand! (Wear your GEMTECH shirt and if we spot you, we’ll high-five ya and give you some cool free stickers. What? You don’t have a GEMTECH shirt? Grab one: http://www.gem-tech.com/store/pc/GEMTECH-T-Shirt-14p482.htm )
Please spread this around if you’re a supporter of increased firearm suppressor freedoms – the bill to legalize hunting with suppressors in Georgia is on the ropes. NRA sent us in the silencer community the heads-up on what’s been going on, so we’re passing it on to you, as this needs some immediate action if it has a chance to survive:
Please do your small (but huge!) part and drop a respectful and short email to the gentleman listed below saying you support SB301 and you’d really appreciate that the bill has opportunity to get heard. It’s easy, it’s quick, you don’t have to write the Unibomber’s Manifesto, just send a fast email saying that you’re a concerned citizen and support SB301, and would like to see it have a hearing.
GEORGIA:
NRA Backed Hunting Reform Bill
Needs Your Immediate Help
Last week, excellent testimony from industry professionals, individual citizens and elected officials was given in support of Senate Bill 301 in the Georgia House Game, Fish and Parks Committee. Unfortunately, SB 301 has not yet been scheduled for another committee hearing and time is running short in this legislative session. If SB 301 is not voted on soon, it cannot be considered on the House floor. SB 301 passed in the state Senate by an overwhelming 48 to 5 vote on January 31.
SB 301 would allow hunters in Georgia to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting.
Your state Representative, Jon Burns (R-157), serves as Chairman of the House Game, Fish and Parks Committee. Please contact him TODAY and respectfully urge him to schedule a hearing for and support SB 301 before time runs out! All Georgians are counting on your immediate action. Contact information for Chairman Burns can be found below.
Representative Jon G. Burns (R-157), Chairman
404-656-5099
jon.burns@house.ga.gov
From Stephen Hunter’s book, “Soft Target”, a little GEMTECH ink. We always get a kick out of seeing our gear in interesting places with interesting people, even if it is just fiction!
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Opens Public Comment Period for Allowing Suppressor Use While Hunting
Please Make Your Voice Heard and Provide Comments to Allow the Use of Suppressors to Hunt Game Animals!
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC) is seeking public comment on a proposed rule change allowing the use of suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for the hunting of game species. Currently, Texas law permits the use of lawfully-possessed suppressors for all other shooting activities, including the taking of nuisance species. Enactment of this rule change would ensure that hunting is treated the same way as other shooting activities with respect to the use of suppressors, and allow all hunters to reap the many benefits suppressor use provides.
There is an incredible amount of misinformation on what suppressors do and how they may be acquired. Suppressors are not “silencers,” as depicted in typical Hollywood action film. While suppressors do not eliminate the sound of a firearm, they do reduce the muzzle report in a manner similar to the way that a muffler reduces exhaust noise from a vehicle. The benefits associated with suppressor use include increased accuracy due to reduced recoil and muzzle blast, protection from hearing damage and reduced noise pollution.
According to the information accompanying the release of the proposed state rules, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has determined that “there is no resource- or enforcement-related reason to prohibit the use of firearm silencers for the take of alligators, game animals or game birds, and therefore proposes to eliminate the current prohibition.”
In order to acquire a suppressor, a purchaser must submit the appropriate paperwork to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives where long wait times for approval are unfortunately common (four to six months), undergo a background check by the FBI, find a licensed dealer authorized to conduct the transaction and pay a one-time $200 tax for each device.
More than half of the states allow the use of suppressors for hunting without reporting any problems with increased incidents of poaching or other criminal activity. Noise complaints are being used more frequently as an excuse to close shooting ranges, informal shooting areas, and hunting lands throughout the country. Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate many of these complaints and protect hunting and shooting areas well into the future.
This proposal is currently available for review on TPWC’s website (hang on, finding link!), and is located in the last two paragraphs on the website. Comments on the proposed rules may be submitted at upcoming public meetings to be scheduled around the state, or to Robert Macdonald (contact information below). Please comment on this important change because allowing the use of suppressors would have a very positive impact on hunting in the Lone Star state. A final decision of this proposed rule will be made by TPWC at its March 28-29 public hearing.
To comment on the proposed rules, please contact:
Robert Macdonald
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, Texas 78744
(512) 389-4775
robert.macdonald@tpwd.state.tx.us
Great to see some good words on our SANDSTORM suppressor in the last issue of Shooting Illustrated, Gary Paul Johnson’s article on building the perfect beast of a rifle with all sort of neat kit and accessories. SANDSTORM is the perfect crowning touch!
Good to see common sense breaking out all over: This week we’ve got the efforts of silencer owners, the NRA, and other helpful parties getting a bill to move closer to completion:
Indiana suppressor bill passes in Judiciary committee 7-1. Stay tuned for more info on this, the Georgia hunting bill, and Arizona as well!
Ok, Texans and those-that-wish-they-were: To give an early heads-up (and make sure we don’t forget to post it during the hubbub that is SHOT Show), Texas Parks and Wildlife proposed amendment to §65.11 (legal suppressor use in hunting) is coming up. The Department has determined no reason to prohibit suppressor use for game (deer, alligators (!), big game, small game, etc.), so the next step will be up to the Commission to hear comments and decide if suppressors will be legal beginning with the 2012-13 hunting seasons.
Giving some credit where it’s due: Our friend/writer Dane Hobbs sent copies of his excellent article (that GEMTECH helped with) on suppressed hunting to the Law Enforcement division of TPWD (we understand Scott Bittner and others have helped out on this issue greatly as well.) After the proposal is introduced at the Jan 25th meeting (Austin-area-guys: go support!), there will be ability for everyone to comment at the TPWD website – hit the “agree completely” button at the bottom of the comment form.
January 25th. Mark your calendars, give support!