(GunReports.com) — Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed House Bill 2728 into law, allowing hunters in the state to use lawfully-suppressed firearms for hunting.
The measure, introduced by state Representative David Gowan (R-30), will provide hunters the option to use legally-owned sound suppressors while hunting game.
Currently, more than half of the states across the country allow hunters to use suppressors while hunting, and two other states (Georgia and Oklahoma) are currently considering similar legislation to allow their use. Recently, Texas also adopted a new rule allowing for use of suppressors when hunting game.
In order to acquire a suppressor, a purchaser must submit the appropriate paperwork to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, where wait times for approval are often four to six months. Also, purchasers must 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.
While suppressors do not eliminate the sound of a firearm, they do reduce the muzzle report.
HB 2728 passed in the state House on February 28 by a 42 to 14 vote and in the state Senate on Tuesday by a 20 to 9 vote.
