By Glen Wunderlich
Some four months ago, I wrote about Michigan’s prohibition on the use of sound
suppressors for firearms. Unless an individual were in possession of a Title II firearms license for machine guns, sound suppressors, and destructive devices, that individual would be guilty of a felony by simply owning a sound suppressor. Not anymore.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has issued a formal Attorney General Opinion stating that State law allows the use of noise suppressors by private citizens when authorized by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Said Schuette, “Michigan citizens who comply with federal firearm regulations can use suppressors to protect their hearing and minimize noise disruptions in the surrounding areas.” Schuette concludes in Attorney General Opinion 7260 that only Michigan residents in full compliance with federal laws may possess a federally-registered suppressor, also commonly referred to as a muffler or silencer. Possession of a suppressor without the proper federal authorization remains a five-year felony under Michigan law. Read more