why are paintball silencers illegal?
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Topic: why are paintball silencers illegal?
Posted By: mitchell_a_ok
Subject: why are paintball silencers illegal?
Date Posted: 22 June 2008 at 2:23pm
| So I've been looking around the forum, and as soon as anyone even mentions a silencer, people freak out saying that it's illegal, which i'm sure it is... now my question is: why are these silencers illegal |
Replies:
Posted By: Hadrian
Date Posted: 22 June 2008 at 2:38pm
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They aren't actually illegal as any firearms enthusiast can tell you. However you just have to pay the US Government a $250 tax after getting approval from the ATF and your local law enforcement to possess one. Building one without a permit is also illegal and considered a federal felony. ------------- Deos fortioribus adesse |
Posted By: rockerdoode
Date Posted: 22 June 2008 at 3:22pm
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I'm sure he appreciates the "how to get one" lesson...but I'm pretty sure that doesn't answer his question. However, I really don't know the answer either. I think it's illegal because the majority of the time you're using a silencer, it's for some type of illegal activity. ------------- "According to Sue Johanson, theres nothing that can increase your manhood, trust me I've already looked into it for myself." -Zata |
Posted By: K Hop
Date Posted: 22 June 2008 at 3:33pm
he answered it fine... you just have to read it... its illegal to have them WITHOUT a permit... which is what most of the topics have been about... like getting one for a paintball gun... what would you be doing illegal with a silencer on your paintball gun? shooting marbles out your car window as you drive down mainstreet? |
rockerdoode wrote:Posted By: Snake6
Date Posted: 22 June 2008 at 4:41pm
Right on. The reason why a silencer is illegal on a paintball marker is that if the silencer could ever be modified in any way shape or form to work on a real weapon it is considered a firearms suppressor. I know that several companies got raided in the 90's by the ATF for producing suppressors for paintball markers. Therefore Tippmann decided that there will be no discussion of this at all because your average paintball player does not have to resources to legally get a silencer. ------------- 
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Posted By: merc
Date Posted: 22 June 2008 at 7:13pm
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any paintball gun silencer can be used to suppress the sound on real guns.
for MOST suppressors you would have to pay a 200$ tax and fill out an ATF form. loophole. ANY fixed barrel marker can have one as long is it is permanently affixed to the barrel. (sheridans or old pumps could have them welded or soldered to the barrel) this is deemed ok because you would have to damage the paintball gun. the info is posted on the ATF website. ------------- saving the world, one warship at a time. |
Posted By: a_sock
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 6:07am
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Or you could just weld it to the front tip of your two piece, and switch out front when you dont want to use it ------------- its easy to be famous, just set yourself on fire |
Posted By: Snake6.
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 9:11am
Nope, then it wouldn't be permanant. If you can take the silencer off the paintball marker without destroying the marker it is regulated by the BATF. ------------- 
http://paintballchat.org - Paintball Chat I'm at work, Leave me alone!!! |
Posted By: Hadrian
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 12:53pm
It isn't the destruction of the marker, but rather the destruction of the "silencer" in the removal process that deems it to be legal or illegal. If removal of the silencer from the marker would leave the silencer intact in any way that it could be possibly be modified to fit a firearm, it would be deemed illegal if you had not paid the transfer tax for it. The ATF doesn't care if you destroy your marker, removing the thing, they care if you destroy the silencer while removing it. Just an FYI for everyone, there are no conventional weapons out there that are deemed as illegal under federal law. With the exception of Biological, Chemical, and Nuclear weapons, if someone makes it, you can own it so long as you have a clean record, don't mind un-announced searches of your home, and pay your taxes. The cases where the feds pull a bunch of "illegal" guns out of someone's home are misrepresented in the media all the time. The guns aren't illegal, it's the tax evasion that is illegal. ------------- Deos fortioribus adesse |
Posted By: Rambino
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 1:02pm
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That's not entirely correct. To obtain a Class 3 firearms license, in addition to the stamp tax, you also need the approval of your local top law enforcement officer. In many places this is automatic, but many sheriffs around the country simply do not allow Class 3 licenses, or are highly selective about them. ------------- [IMG]http://i38.tinypic.com/aag8s8.jpg"> |
Posted By: Hadrian
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 4:23pm
Uhm... I covered that didn't I? Incidentally you do not need a Class-III license to own a silencer. To sell one, yes, but to purchase/make one there are multiple other licenses with less restrictive regulations. For example, an individual with a Class-II license may manufacture/modify firearms including suppressors. There are some other legal loopholes. However many states have banned ownership of suppressors by individuals and if you lived in such a state, even with a FFL, you would not be able to own one. ------------- Deos fortioribus adesse |
Posted By: Rambino
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 4:46pm
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This is the part I was focusing on. Owning a Class 3 firearm (including a silencer) is generally prohibited without a Class 3 license, and a Class 3 license requires approval from local law enforcement. I wouldn't want to give the impression that your only problem if found to have an un-licensed Class 3 firearm is that you owe the government a stamp tax. ------------- [IMG]http://i38.tinypic.com/aag8s8.jpg"> |
Posted By: impulse!
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 6:27pm
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I love living in Arizona.
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Posted By: merc
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 5:24pm
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my understanding was if you made a suppressor or SBR for personal use it was a 200$ tax stamp and an ATF form. no class 3 required. buying/transferring of these items would require a class 3. ------------- saving the world, one warship at a time. |
Posted By: evanmarcus
Date Posted: 01 September 2012 at 1:33am
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No, because paintball guns are not a weapon in most places and accessories for them cant be.
------------- nothing to see here |
Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 01 September 2012 at 9:43am
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Holy necro-bump. Please read the forum rules, and check the date of a thread you post in. This one is 4 years old and has been dead since. ------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site 
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Posted By: DeTrevni
Date Posted: 01 September 2012 at 10:04am
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It's also spam. ------------- Evil Elvis: "Detrevni is definally like a hillbilly hippy from hell" 
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Posted By: Lightningbolt
Date Posted: 01 September 2012 at 10:19am
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It would be interesting to see the first post that people made if they were archived. Welcome to the forums. |
Posted By: tigerparrow
Date Posted: 04 September 2012 at 2:10am
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Doh! ------------- Just so you know . . . I'm a loser. |
Posted By: immanuel1983
Date Posted: 24 September 2012 at 12:31am
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I used to use one in the 80's on my pump PMI 68 Magnum. As the guy stated, eveybody had them then. I see them on the field that I use all the time and no one even gives them a second glance. All that article says to me is this is just another way for the BATF to make money using scare tactics like labeling it a federal crime. Using one an an actual firearm it would prolly blow it to pieces the first shot since they're made of PCV plastic. As far as silencers go for an actual firearm, I could make one out of a plastic 2 litre Coke bottle or a motorcycle muffler. I think the BATF should charge a $200 deposit on Coke bottles and motorcycle mufflers as well lol. Sry......just a lil DRAGON satire there hee hee - Bottom line though, they are illegal - |