This past week, as I was having a discussion about Georgia gun laws with a fellow gun enthusiast, the following thought came up: “I would like to see a law passed to make it legal to use silencers on hunting rifles during hunting season.”

I had never given this idea much thought because I have never owned a silencer. It’s one of those out-of-sight, out-of-mind things. As the conversation went on, the gentleman shared several reasons why having a silenced rifle in the hunting woods was a good idea. The main reason would be that the noise from a high-powered rifle would be nonexistent. If you have been around the area where a hunting rifle has been fired, the blast can be quite loud. In the mountains of north Georgia, a rifle shot made during deer season can be heard for a long way off.

I know that many of you are now saying, “I thought it was illegal to own a silencer.”

I had the same thoughts myself, not knowing the gun laws governing such items to be used on a rifle. The fellow I was talking to began to explain to me that it was indeed legal to own and use silencers on firearms in the state of Georgia, provided you follow all of the rules and laws. He explained that you had to fill out a form and pay a fee to obtain a stamp to use a silencer legally.

While I believe that having the right to use silencers would be a good idea, I am sure many citizens would think that criminals would take advantage of such a law to do their dirty deeds. The very fact of how hard it is to obtain such a license is deterrent enough to keep would-be criminals from owning a silencer legally. The license requires a background check, and I don’t think any unsavory owner is going to go down to their county courthouse and apply for a permit.

The idea of being able to own and use silencers during hunting season has been brought to the Georgia Senate under Senate Bill 301 and has been sponsored by the following senators: John Bulloch, 11th District; Ross Tolleson 20th District; David Shafer, 48th District; Chip Rogers, 21st District; Jeff Mullis, 53rd District; and Greg Goggins, 7th District. The final vote was 48 for and five against. The bill was listed as dead in the senate for a reason I do not know.

I do not intend to try and explain the laws of Georgia and the federal government in this discussion. If you have questions as to owning a silencer and putting it on a firearm, I would suggest you contact the proper authorities governing such laws.

I had the chance to shoot a rifle last week that had a legal silencer on it and was very surprised at just how quiet it was. I think that having silencers would certainly make local outdoor shooting ranges more tolerable for nearby residents.

Have a great week and keep those muzzles pointed in a safe direction.

Roger Sherrill lives in Ringgold. He can be reached at tandemjumper@catt.com.