Understanding the Importance of the Hearing Protection Act

What Is the Hearing Protection Act?

In a much-needed win for the 2nd Amendment, the U.S. House recently moved the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) closer to becoming law, advancing it out of committee and sending it to the House floor for a full vote. This bill, long-championed by pro-gun advocates, aims to remove firearm suppressors—commonly and misleadingly called “silencers”—from the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934.

Currently, purchasing a suppressor legally requires jumping through a litany of bureaucratic hoops: a $200 tax stamp, extensive paperwork, background checks, and months (sometimes even a year) of waiting. The goal of the HPA is to treat suppressors like regular firearms under the Gun Control Act—meaning a standard background check from an FFL and a much more streamlined process for law-abiding citizens.

The Real Purpose of Suppressors: Safety and Education

Despite what Hollywood or some anti-gun politicians may say, suppressors do not make firearms “silent.” In fact, in most cases, suppressed firearms still produce a report louder than the legal definition of “hearing safe.” What they do accomplish, however, is a substantial reduction in damaging noise levels—providing a key form of hearing protection, especially for recreational shooters, hunters, and trainers.

At Fortress Firearms Training in Fountain Inn, SC, we’ve long advocated for embracing tools that improve safety for gun owners. Suppressors are:

• Vital for permanent hearing protection, especially for instructors, hunters, and competitive shooters who are exposed to repetitive gunfire.
• Effective at reducing noise pollution, which is a common complaint from urban and suburban communities near outdoor ranges.
• Useful training tools — students new to firearms often feel more comfortable, more confident, and less intimidated when training with suppressed firearms.

For those joining us at Fortress Firearms Training, education isn’t just about marksmanship. It’s about safety, responsibility, and confidence—and suppressors help improve all three.

Challenging the Myths Pushed by the Anti-Gun Left

The Hearing Protection Act has been demonized by the gun control lobby and left-leaning politicians who paint suppressors as tools of criminals. This rhetoric is not only intentionally misleading—it’s flat-out wrong.

ATF and FBI statistics confirm that suppressors are virtually never used in crimes. In fact, according to the American Suppressor Association, suppressors are involved in criminal activity at a rate of less than 0.01%. These are devices overwhelmingly purchased and used by law-abiding American gun owners.

Despite this reality, radical anti-gun politicians insist on clinging to fear-based narratives. Their real aim isn’t public safety—it’s gun control for the sake of control. They see firearm ownership not as a right, but as a privilege to be increasingly regulated until it disappears.

The Government’s Role in Hindering Gun Safety

Ironically, the current NFA requirements for suppressor purchases actively discourage their use—pushing otherwise responsible gun owners away from tools that would actually make firearms safer.

At Fortress Firearms Training, we teach everyone from beginners to experienced shooters. The moment you understand the physical danger of repeated gunfire without hearing protection, the more you appreciate suppressed shooting. Yet, red tape stands in the way.

A truly pro-safety, pro-education government would support making suppressor ownership more accessible, not more difficult.

Here’s what the anti-gun establishment refuses to acknowledge:

• Suppressors make sense for everyday gun use. Whether in training or hunting, they reduce recoil, minimize muzzle blast, and mitigate hearing damage.
• The laws enforcing suppressor control are outdated. The NFA was written nearly 100 years ago—and reflects a complete misunderstanding of both modern firearms and how suppressors function today.
• Suppressors empower responsible gun culture. Our instructors at Fortress Firearms see first-hand how suppressed shooting allows for better confidence-building and safer, more focused training sessions.

Why Gun Owners Need to Make Their Voices Heard

The Hearing Protection Act deserves the support of every law-abiding American gun owner. It’s not just about bypassing pointless bureaucracy—it’s about pushing back against an anti-gun agenda that continually erodes our freedoms through misinformation and fear tactics.

The pro-2nd Amendment community has endured decades of incremental attacks by lawmakers who don’t trust responsible citizens with their God-given rights. Bills like the HPA show that there are still champions of freedom in Congress, but they need our support.

At Fortress Firearms Training, we call on our South Carolina community and gun owners nationwide to:

• Contact your representatives and encourage them to vote in favor of the Hearing Protection Act.
• Stay informed and engaged. The Left thrives on voter apathy—don’t let them get away with misleading the public.
• Support firearms education and training. Knowledge is power, and when we equip citizens with proper gun safety, we build a stronger, freer America.

Fortress Firearms Training: Standing for Liberty

At Fortress Firearms Training, we’re not just offering firearms instruction—we’re part of a broader mission to defend and promote a positive 2nd Amendment culture.

Whether you’re a first-time gun owner or a seasoned shooter, our certified instructors provide high-level training that emphasizes safety, accountability, and constitutional freedom. We reject the narrative that gun control equals safety. Real safety comes from knowledge, responsibility, and free citizens willing to defend themselves and their communities.

We proudly stand with those fighting for commonsense firearms reform—not more restrictions—but reforms like the Hearing Protection Act that restore our rights and recognize the realities of modern responsible gun ownership.

Final Thoughts

Suppressors don’t make guns more dangerous—they make them safer. The Hearing Protection Act is a long-overdue correction to a decades-old regulatory overreach rooted in misunderstanding and fear.

The anti-gun establishment will try everything in its power to kill this bill, using the same tired, false arguments about silencers and crime. But the truth is clear:

Suppressors save hearing, promote safety, and embody responsible gun ownership.

If you’re ready to take your firearms education to the next level and stand up for your rights, visit Fortress Firearms Training and get equipped for the fight ahead—in knowledge, training, and freedom.