Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Gun Safety Legislation to Outlaw Gun Silencers

Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Gun Safety Legislation to Outlaw Gun Silencers

Washington, D.C. (June 8, 2026) - Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) reintroduced the Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act, federal gun safety legislation to ban the importation, sale, manufacturing, transfer and possession of gun silencers or suppressors.

"Silencers are not tools of self-defense, they are tools of murder," said Watson Coleman. "They have no legal application which is why law enforcement officials around the country have been calling for their elimination. The HEAR Act will save lives and is part of the common sense approach to firearms legislation that polls show has widespread support among voters on both sides of the aisle."

This bill was first introduced in 2019 following the deadly Virginia Beach mass shooting, in which a gunman attached a suppressor to a .45-caliber handgun before opening fire in a local government office building where he killed 12 people and injured four more. Instead of passing comprehensive gun safety legislation to ensure this never happens again, in 2025, House Republicans tried to eliminate the registration and ownership requirements for silencers that have been in place since the National Firearms Act went into effect in 1934. While this effort was not successful, gun lobbyists were able to pass a bill eliminating the $200 tax on purchasing the devices.

Gun silencers and suppressors have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the gun industry, which pushed accessories as gun sales level off. While several states, including New Jersey, outlaw gun silencers, they are permitted under current federal law, but must be registered. In 2010, there were 285,087 registered silencers in the United States. Since April 2020, that number has increased to over 2 million. A nationwide ban on silencers would ensure the devices are not trafficked into states where bans are in place.

The Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act is endorsed by Newtown Action Alliance.

"When gunfire erupts, every second matters," said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance. "Survivors know we should never make it harder to recognize danger or respond to violence. Silencers can delay recognition of gunfire and slow emergency response when lives are at stake. Newtown Action Alliance proudly supports the HEAR Act and thanks Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman for her leadership to keep our communities safe."

The Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act is cosponsored by Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sean Casten (IL-06), and Ed Case (HI-01).

Text of the bill can be found here.

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