Why the push for change?
Until the existing law is changed regarding the purchase/transfer of a firearm suppressor, any potential purchaser must jump through the following hoops:
The purchaser must find a Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) Class 3 dealer in their home state in order to legally transfer a suppressor. This "transfer" may come with a $25-$40 additional fee on top of any "shipping and handling" fee.
For an out-of-state purchase, the vendor must ship the suppressor to a designated FFL after BATFE approval for the (Class 3) transfer (which may take 4-8 weeks).
Once the dealer has received the suppressor, the purchaser can begin the "paperwork" for the final transfer. The paperwork requires that the purchaser complete and submit federal forms listing personal information, including their name and address, along with their fingerprints, a photo, and then have their local sheriff approve and sign the forms.
The purchaser is also required to pay an additional one-time $200 transfer tax to the ATF for each suppressor purchased.
The ATF is currently taking 6 months to approve and return the paperwork. Once the sale is approved, the purchaser can pick up their suppressor from the local Class 3 dealer.
There you have it...All this to fulfill the equivalent of purchasing a muffler for your automobile! Such is the quest for better hearing protection.