How SilencerCo is Undermining Silencer Shop’s Kiosk Program
June 9, 2016
It didn’t take long for Silencer Shop’s post-41F kiosks to attract the ire of competitors. In an email sent back in May by SilencerCo to their distributors, the suppressor giant accuses Silencer Shop of “spreading the next wave of Post (sic) 41F misinformation” and advises dealers that licensees are not permitted to collect fingerprints under the new regulations. The whole message by Scott Clinger from SilencerCo, as provided to me by a friendly dealer, is posted below.
Unfortunately, the email Scott Clinger at SilencerCo lacks any sort of citation. Modern Rifleman has reached out to the company for clarification, but has yet to receive a response. Without material proof of Silencer Shop’s supposed wrongdoings, it’s virtually impossible to validate the assertion.
Based on the final 41F text, it seems that SilencerCo is in the wrong here. On page 150, the ATF states the following:
Fingerprints may be taken by anyone who is properly equipped to take them (see instructions on ATF Form 1, Form 4, Form 5, and Form 5320.23). Therefore, applicants may utilize the service of any business or government agency that is properly equipped to take fingerprints. Depending on where the fingerprints are taken, the service may require an appointment, and appointment availability may be limited. Some businesses provide evening and weekend appointments and a number of private companies provide mobile fingerprinting services at a location chosen by the customer to be fingerprinted. Additionally, some mobile fingerprinting services offer special pricing to groups of individuals who need to be fingerprinted.
Reading the above, it’s quite clear that private parties may collect fingerprints for the purposes of NFA submissions. Additionally, Silencer Shop has both privately and publicly informed Modern Rifleman and others that their legal team not only reviewed the kiosk program, but they also have written approval from the ATF. It is worth noting that the ATF does not require any sort of certification for a business to take fingerprints, only that they be “properly equipped” to collect them. Based on that fact, Silencer Shop’s efforts to receive ATF blessing would indicate that they have gone above and beyond the rule’s requirements.
Again, until SilencerCo responds to Modern Rifleman’s request for comment (with material evidence), it is only appropriate to assume that the accusations are false. While the business rift between SilencerCo and Silencer Shop is no secret, it is still disappointing to see one Tier One Sponsor of the American Suppressor Association actively undermining another’s efforts to put more silencers in private hands. I’ll update this article if more information becomes available.
An information security professional by day and gun blogger by night, Nathan started his firearms journey at 16 years old as a collector of C&R rifles. These days, you’re likely to find him shooting something a bit more modern – and usually equipped with a suppressor – but his passion for firearms with military heritage has never waned. Over the last five years, Nathan has written about a variety of firearms topics, including Second Amendment politics and gun and gear reviews. When he isn’t shooting or writing, Nathan nerds out over computers, 3D printing, and Star Wars.
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