SALT LAKE CITY -- A pro biker taking on the trails of southern Utah has seemingly little to do with gun rights advocacy, but Cam Zink is getting involved in that very subject.
“This was my first time shooting a suppressed gun,” said Zink, as part of a video posted online.
The famous free-rider from Nevada took some time off the bike to participate in a social media campaign launched by the West Valley City company, SilencerCo.
As the largest manufacturer of gun silencers, commonly known as gun suppressors, the company wants to deregulate the mechanisms in order to make them more affordable and readily available.
“Guns don’t have to be loud,” said Darren Jones, who helps head up the company’s marketing department.
This week, they started the Fight the Noise movement online.
Zink served as the first face of what will become a video series, featuring everyday people who are a part of their cause.
“We don’t have to be treated like common criminals to own something that’s legal,” Jones said. “There are a lot of responsible gun owners in this country. And we feel that we are responsible enough to be able to own a suppressor without having to go through a three-month or six-month background check from the ATF.”
Suppressors are currently legal in 39 states, but users must abide by federal regulations to obtain one. The law requires gun owners to either pay for a trust or get approval from local law enforcement before then sending off an application and $200 tax payment to ATF for final approval.
“The reason there is a federal firearm regulation on those is so that they’re not being discharged in urban environments,” said Park City Police Chief Wade Carpenter.
As the president of the Utah Chief’s Association, Wade said local law enforcement believes the federal oversight in place is important. In some cases, suppressors can impact their equipment. Cameras that are percussion based are rendered ineffective by gun suppressors, which is why Wade believes they are problematic if allowed to get into the wrong hands.
“With the increase we’ve had with urban assaults on police officers throughout the country, obviously we would have a concern with silencers being used in those environments,” explained Wade.
SilencerCo. is planning to expand their campaign past social media. They’re planning events around the country to introduce consumers to suppressors in hopes of gaining further support.
“This is not something that needs to be regulated at the level it’s regulated at,” Jones said.
