Episode 60 - Suppressors: Inside the Fight to Modernize Hearing Protection for Sportsmen and Women

What happens when common-sense hearing protection collides with outdated laws and misinformation? Suppressors have quietly become one of the most misunderstood and transformative tools in modern hunting, and this week Fred sits down from NASC with Knox Williams, President of the American Suppressor Association and Brent Miller to unpack what the removal of the federal suppressor tax means for hunters, recreational shooters, and the broader outdoors community. This is an insider conversation that goes far beyond politics. We explore why suppressors are best understood as hearing protection, not tactical accessories—and why waterfowl hunters, elk hunters, whitetail hunters, and upland bird hunters alike are adopting them in record numbers. From maintaining auditory situational awareness in the field to protecting hunting dogs and introducing kids and new shooters to firearms responsibly, suppressors fundamentally change the shooting experience. The discussion also tackles common myths head-on: poaching concerns, safety misconceptions, and Hollywood-driven narratives that don’t hold up under real-world data. Drawing on decades of advocacy, field experience, and sound-measurement research, our guests explain how suppressors improve hunter safety, reduce noise conflicts with neighbors, and make participation in hunting and the shooting sports more accessible, especially in fragmented landscapes common across the East and Midwest. Listeners will also gain insight into how hunting culture is evolving, why suppressors are widely accepted in Europe, and what legal challenges could mean for the future of firearms regulation in the United States. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at where tradition, technology, and conservation-minded hunting intersect. Get the FREE Sportsmen’s Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices