Your Action Needed: Texas Public Hearings On Suppressors for Hunting.

[matefrio]

Doubling this one for more views. Mods can kick this thread if they don't agree.

I'm trying to get folks to the public hearings in support of using suppressors for hunting game animals.

http://www.texasguntalk.com/forums/...exas-public-hearings-suppressors-hunting.html

 

[matefrio]

I'm going to Beaumont. Anyone?

 

[Driller]

Planning on being at the Sheldon Lake meeting in Houston

 

[matefrio]

Bump!

 

[Driller]

Great meeting. Also noted how many of you were CHL, Nice job on your concealment. I was talking to this guy and the whole time we were both packing the FN 5.7 without either knowing...

 

[Martinus_Turonis]

The question now is whether the amendment to the law concerning hunting with suppressors becomes an endorsement for suppressor ownership in the State of Texas.
Under PC §46.05. PROHIBITED WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or sells: (4) a firearm silencer;
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor's possession was pursuant to registration pursuant to the National Firearms Act, as amended.

If the new hunting regulations which would come into effect on Sept. 1, 2012 actually allowed the ability to hunt with a suppressor as long as the licensee had the proper NFA registration paperwork and a valid hunting license would it not also imply the the clause in PC §46.05 (c) with regard to PC §46.05 (a) (4) no longer "is a defense to prosecution" but "you shall be allowed to possess" since the newer law and the broad ability for the TPWD to enact law concerning hunting regulations would trump the old law ?
Otherwise you have a contradiction in the laws. Police departments still have the ability to make an arrest under PC §46.05 (a) (4) even with proof of NFA paperwork under PC §46.05 (c) but now the TPWD Game Wardens are instructed to allow for hunting with the possession of a suppressor. If the new TPWD suppressor regulation actually allows for a "Suppressor Endorsement" on a hunting license with the proof of NFA paperwork, would that also trump the PC §46.05 (a) (4) and PC §46.05 (c) statues and actually be a license for a suppressor in the State of Texas?

In any case we have too many suppressive laws and regulations as it is and the 2nd Amendment in it's original intent does allow for the legal ownership of suppressors. Whether you have a CHL or a registered NFA item, it is still the government giving back with restrictions some of the constitutional rights that have been unconstitutionally taken away from us.

 

[Bithabus]

The question now is whether the amendment to the law concerning hunting with suppressors becomes an endorsement for suppressor ownership in the State of Texas.
Under PC §46.05. PROHIBITED WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or sells: (4) a firearm silencer;
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor's possession was pursuant to registration pursuant to the National Firearms Act, as amended.

If the new hunting regulations which would come into effect on Sept. 1, 2012 actually allowed the ability to hunt with a suppressor as long as the licensee had the proper NFA registration paperwork and a valid hunting license would it not also imply the the clause in PC §46.05 (c) with regard to PC §46.05 (a) (4) no longer "is a defense to prosecution" but "you shall be allowed to possess" since the newer law and the broad ability for the TPWD to enact law concerning hunting regulations would trump the old law ?
Otherwise you have a contradiction in the laws. Police departments still have the ability to make an arrest under PC §46.05 (a) (4) even with proof of NFA paperwork under PC §46.05 (c) but now the TPWD Game Wardens are instructed to allow for hunting with the possession of a suppressor. If the new TPWD suppressor regulation actually allows for a "Suppressor Endorsement" on a hunting license with the proof of NFA paperwork, would that also trump the PC §46.05 (a) (4) and PC §46.05 (c) statues and actually be a license for a suppressor in the State of Texas?

.

No.

We can hunt with suppressors now by the way, just not game animals.

 

[matefrio]

MT, Don't show the hand before the bets are placed.

100% of the public in attendance at the Houston meeting were there in support of just this one item. Nice to see everyone out there.

Additionally some of us were approached by a Texas Parks and Wildlife employee after the meeting asking how he to could own one as he had interest in them now.

 

[Driller]

I mentioned to the TPWD representative to allow us to be able to provide proof of NFA stamp by showing a picture of it on a smart phone. ATF recommends putting the original in a fire proof safe and having a "copy" available. Define copy. I say a picture is a copy. Alot of us have smart phones and usually carry them while hunting

 

[Martinus_Turonis]

I don't think you really understand my post.
TPWD currently explicitly prohibits the use of sound suppressors for hunting game animals. TPWD does not explicitly allow the use of sound suppressors for hunting non game animals such as feral swine.
The proposal being discussed is for TPWD to explicitly allow the use of sound suppressors for hunting game animals in the language of the regulation rather than just removing the language that prohibits the use of sound suppressors for hunting game animals.
Do you understand the difference when it comes to PC §46.05 ?

No.

We can hunt with suppressors now by the way, just not game animals.

 

[Martinus_Turonis]

ok. I'll try not to jinx it.

MT, Don't show the hand before the bets are placed.

100% of the public in attendance at the Houston meeting were there in support of just this one item. Nice to see everyone out there.

Additionally some of us were approached by a Texas Parks and Wildlife employee after the meeting asking how he to could own one as he had interest in them now.

 

[Bithabus]

I don't think you really understand my post.
TPWD currently explicitly prohibits the use of sound suppressors for hunting game animals. TPWD does not explicitly allow the use of sound suppressors for hunting non game animals such as feral swine.
The proposal being discussed is for TPWD to explicitly allow the use of sound suppressors for hunting game animals in the language of the regulation rather than just removing the language that prohibits the use of sound suppressors for hunting game animals.
Do you understand the difference when it comes to PC §46.05 ?

TPWD regulations have nothing to do with PC 46.05. There would be no "contradiction".

If you are suggesting this could be a stepping stone to legalization of suppressor ownership in Texas, by other means, I won't disagree. I'd love to see 46.05 repealed.

 

[txgunner00]

Anyone going to the final hearings tomorrow? Work got in the way for me.

 

[Driller]

Listened to the audio from the TPWD Commissioners meeting. Went well. They had some discussion on suppressed shotguns. Vote is tomorrow.