Class 3 weopon and CHL

[para45]

Ok so I have owned firearms for some years now, and now I am thinking about getting into class 3 weapons, speifically a supressor for a 1911, can a person buy a supressor then add it to a handgun, or how does it work, anyone know any good websites with this info, about owning a supressor, i did a search and didnt find anything good or easy to understand about what how one is bought outside of the jest of the gov. paperwork, and at last, can a person conceal a supressed weopon??

[SCone]

Pay the tax & follow the rules, no big deal. But conceal carry a suppressed pistol?

That's just screaming for trouble in my mind. Might not be anything illegal, but......???

[SCone]

If you're serious, there's some dealers at Market Hall that can set you up with everything you need.

[Pinkycatcher]

Pay the tax & follow the rules, no big deal. But conceal carry a suppressed pistol?

That's just screaming for trouble in my mind. Might not be anything illegal, but......???

Yah basically, if you're in Houston or any prosecuting happy town, and you defend yourself with it, it's going to be hard as hell to explain that to a DA

[HankB]

Disclaimer: I Am Not A Lawyer

The Federal license/tax stamp for a suppressor has no relation to a Texas CHL - they are entirely separate matters.

With a CHL you can carry a handgun in Texas and many other states, subject to certain limitations.

AFAIK, Texas law is silent on carry of a suppressor or suppressed handgun by a CHL holder, so I see nothing illegal about it, but some officers will run you in just for the heck of it. (Remember the old saying, "You may beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride"?)

The CHL that lets you carry in other states has no bearing on the suppressor - I believe the Feds want notification in advance if you're carrying the suppressor across state lines . . . and some states ban suppressors entirely. (No post-Heller case law on suppressor possession in states with a ban.)

[dukalmighty]

Actually suppressors sound like they work better than most do,to silence a 22 or 9mm it's recommended you use sub sonic ammunition,They do quiet the report and sometimes enough that hearing protection isn't needed but most of the time they still go bang.Today at the gun range my buddy with all the full autos showed up with a new suppressed 22 pistol It still made a pretty decent bang with standard ammo.

[KRM45]

The penal code addresses silencers in section 46.05. You will notice that the fact it is registered is merely a "defense to prosecution." What this tells me is that if you carry your pistol complete with silencer attached and an officer finds out you may very well take the ride...

In the end you likely would not be convicted, but since the officer is not required to negate a defese to prosecution you would have no grounds for claiming a wrongful arrest.

See chapter 2 of the penal code for details of the meaning of "defense to prosecution.."

§ 46.05. PROHIBITED WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an
offense if he intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures,
transports, repairs, or sells:
(1) an explosive weapon;
(2) a machine gun;
(3) a short-barrel firearm;
(4) a firearm silencer;
(5) a switchblade knife;
(6) knuckles;
(7) armor-piercing ammunition;
(8) a chemical dispensing device; or
(9) a zip gun.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
the actor's conduct was incidental to the performance of official
duty by the armed forces or national guard, a governmental law
enforcement agency, or a correctional facility.
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
the actor's possession was pursuant to registration pursuant to the
National Firearms Act, as amended.

[Lindy]

Suppressors are different from other Class III items like machineguns.

Suppressors may be transported to other states without notification to nor approval from the BATFE. That is not the case with machineguns.

However, if you are going through a state which does not allow suppressors, it must be locked up in the trunk of your car, or otherwise secured in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 926a. And always carry a copy of the paperwork for it.

Even if you're in a state which honors your Texas CHL, you may not be able to use the suppressor.

I have suppressors for my sniper rifles, because they reduce both muzzle signature and recoil, but I think that suppressors for pistols are mostly toys. Nothing wrong with having toys, of course, if you can afford the price and want to put up with the restrictions and the paperwork.