Buying a Suppressor: Why You Need a Gun Trust

Suppressors, which can also go by the name silencers, mufflers, etc are becoming more and more popular among gun owners due to their benefits of hearing protection, reduced recoil, which leads to a better shooting experience. Purchasing a suppressor is not as easy as purchasing a Title 1 Firearm over the counter. Suppressors are regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA), which means that ATF paperwork, typically an ATF Form 4, needs to be completed and approved before you can take possession of the suppressor. One of the smartest ways for the present and future, is to apply for the tax stamp with a gun trust.

What is a Gun Trust?

A National Firearms Act (NFA) Gun Trust is a standard trust that is designed to be used with NFA firearms in mind.  A NFA Gun Trust is written with specific language that tailors to the National Firearms Act and the Gun Control Act rules and regulations.  Our NFA Gun Trusts are valid and work in all 50 States of the United States.  However, just because the trust is valid and works in all 50 States, doesn't mean that you can own any Title II weapon in your state.   State laws are different within every state on what Title II weapons they allow and don't allow to be registered within their state.  Probably the most regulated state within the United States is California and the least regulated is Texas.  Regulated meaning which NFA Firearms are allowed to be registered and used within that state.  With that being said you need to be aware of the state laws where you intend to establish your NFA Gun Trust and store your NFA Firearms.

Why You Need a Gun Trust for a Suppressor Purchase?

Shared Access with Responsible Persons

You can purchase a suppressor as an individual, however when you do you have to supervise the use of the suppressor, even while hunting or at the range. When you store the suppressor, other parties can’t have access to the safe or codes/keys to the safe. If someone uses, possesses, transports or stores the suppressor without the supervision of the individual named on the approved tax stamp, they would technically be a felon. When you apply for the suppressor tax stamp using a gun trust, you can name other co-trustees within the gun trust who can, possess, transport, store and use the NFA firearms without your supervision. Co-trustees are commonly, a spouse, family member, or friend. With a gun trust, you can also amend the gun trust to add or remove co-trustees in the future. Perhaps a friend wants to use your suppressor on a hunting trip without you. That is possible by adding your friend to the gun trust as a co-trustee.

Simplified Inheritance

Having a gun trust helps ensure that your NFA firearms and Title 1 Firearms are passed down legally and smoothly to your named beneficiaries. Without a gun trust, when you pass your firearms could be subject to probate or worse being confiscated and destroyed. With a gun trust, your successor trustees and beneficiaries are named within the gun trust, so transferring the firearms from your gun trust to the named beneficiaries happens quickly and lawfully.

Future Flexibility

You may only be ordering and purchasing a suppressor today, but what if in the future you want to purchase/make an SBR, SBR or purchase another suppressor? With our unlimited firearm gun trust, you can use it for all of your future NFA firearms and you can even add your currently owned Title 1 Firearms. It is even possible to make changes to your gun trust in the future. We include amendments with all of our gun trusts, that you can use to add/remove co-trustees in the future, change your beneficiaries, etc.

Individual vs Gun Trust Processing Times

In the past, both gun trusts and individual applications for ATF Form 4 applications were taking anywhere between 5 to 11 months on average. The ATF recently sped up the approvals for standardized gun trusts and individual applications. Since our gun trust is a standardized gun trust with the ATF, you can expect approval times, if applying online using the ATF eForm 4, on average 4 days to 90 days. That is a significant drop in approval times. That means if you are applying with our standardized gun trust, you won’t be missing out on the fast approval times. Other gun trusts that are offered online or even locally by a lawyer may not be a standardized gun trust and could be subject to the 5 to 11 month wait time.

Final Thoughts: Is a Gun Trust Worth It?

Yes, for most suppressor buyers, it absolutely is. Applying for your suppressor tax stamp with a gun trust is a smart and affordable way to protect yourself legally, plan for the future of your firearms when you pass away, and enjoy your suppressor with peace of mind. It is not about checking a legal box, it is about safeguarding your firearms, your rights, your family, and your investment.