Comments on: Huron Manistee—Never Quite Quiet

By: Comments are Due on Huron-Manistee Forest Action Plan | Northern Michigan Conservation Network

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:57:06 +0000

[...] to support Alternative #3 or #4. More information is also available through MUCC at http://www.mucc.org/2011/11/huron-manistee-never-quite-quiet/ [...]

By: Tgregory26

Tgregory26 — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:36:00 +0000

Michigan Gets Quiet
By Joel E. Fulton

On September 2, 2011, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette issued an opinion which will now allow citizen’s of the State of Michigan to join the citizens of 38 other states in the legal possession of sound suppression devices. AG Bill Schuette used the same logic in this opinion as was used by former AG Mike Cox to allow Michiganians to possess fully automatic machine guns manufactured before 1986.

AG Bill Schuette has been supported in his decision by constitutional County Sheriff’s Michael Raines of Eaton County and Dar Leaf of Barry County. This interpretation of current Michigan law is consistent with all of the Federal rules regulating the transfer of devices controlled by the National Firearms Act of 1934. Every person wishing to purchase a sound suppression device for their firearm must first obtain permission from their chief local law enforcement official, be fingerprinted, submit photos, submit to a Federal criminal background check, and pay a $200 transfer tax.

The benefit to citizens will be the ability to defend ones home or vehicle without having to destroy ones hearing with the discharge of a firearm in a confined space. In addition, as in Europe, sound suppression devices will go a long way toward noise abatement. It is now possible to shoot in the back yard without disturbing your neighbor’s sleep who works third shift, upset their livestock, or sight in your firearms without upsetting the woods right before hunting season.

The benefits of these devices are numerous and with the legal hurdles and regulations in place for them, they are very unlikely to find their way into the hands of criminals. Attorney General Bill Schuette in expressing an opinion allowing sound suppression devices on firearms has done nothing more than put a muffler on a lawnmower. It is quiet and courteous and makes the shooting sports more social and enjoyable by making it safe to shoot without having to wear cumbersome ear protection.

Joel Fulton is the President of Freedom Firearms in Battle Creek Michigan and has worked extensively on a volunteer basis with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office on Concealed Pistol License Reciprocity

By: Amy Trotter

Amy Trotter — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:34:00 +0000

Can you tell us more about that?

By: Tgregory26

Tgregory26 — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:06:00 +0000

Attorney general: Michigan gun owners can use silencers, suppressors
2011/09/02

By: Pat Babcock

Pat Babcock — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:27:00 +0000

Meister appears to be an activist malcontent who wanted his name in lights. He has that now. His claim that there should be silence in the forest is, frankly, preposterous and it is a sign of the times that an individual with a complaint has gotten this much attention. This is like buying a house next to an international airport, and then demanding that they reduce the noise. There are better uses of my tax dollars than entertaining such…

By: Ronstaxi

Ronstaxi — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:08:00 +0000

Thats Right this is Michigan and I say . Love it Or leave it. I love it and Hunt, Hike,Fish,Ice Fish,Cross Country Ski, and Do all the things that I can ,Out of Doors in this Great State Why cant we all just get along. I for one am getting tired of all the whinnig where is the chesse, to go with it, thats right Pinconning what a Great State, We The Pepole live in.Thats right I said We not just I, The gun shot noise that is heard now and then in a hunting situation is very miner whats next no fly over this area I for one am sick of this stuff get a life and thats right this whinning ofends me .

By: Amy Trotter

Amy Trotter — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:51:00 +0000

That is a good point, I will have more on the wildlife impact/habitat side of this analysis soon. Loggin wasn’t on the noise maps, probably because its not a “fixed” noise source like a permanent trail is. Logging jobs move around and can be sporadic…just like the noise from firearm hunters. This would be great to include in your comments to USFS.

By: Gelindquist

Gelindquist — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:19:00 +0000

I see logging was left off the list. Is that because the forest service is not doing the logging they are supposed to be doing as per their own management plan?

By: 72Oly300

72Oly300 — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:06:00 +0000

Regardless of your preference for outdoor recreation – Michigan is a relatively small in physical size state – with a fairly large population. “Quiet” outdoor recreation may be a desire for some – but if we take away firearms, and those other “undesirable” forms of motorized recreation – I need to go tell my friends the farmers and the loggers – (and heaven forbid if someone is cutting firewood) – they will obviously be next. I’ve lived in western states and seen the “room” they have……. That “ain’t” us here in the Big Mitten.

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:37:00 +0000

We have a cabin in Alaska. Out in the middle of nowhere 3hours by plane from Anchorage. At almost any given time you can here planes and boats passing by somewhere nearby. Such a place as silence only exists in our minds.