State Laws

Suppressors are legal to own in most of the country — but not everywhere. On top of the federal NFA process, each state (and sometimes your city or county) sets its own rules about whether you can own a suppressor and how you can use it. Here's the lay of the land, and how this site handles it.

The two-layer rule

Two things have to line up. First, federal law: every suppressor is an NFA item, so a Form 4 transfer, background check, and registration apply no matter where you live (see our Form 4 guide). Second, your state and local law, which sits on top of the federal rules and can prohibit suppressors outright, restrict how you use them, or add requirements of its own. Federal approval is the floor, not the ceiling.

Where suppressors are prohibited

Civilian suppressor ownership is currently prohibited in eight states and the District of Columbia:

We don't transfer suppressors into these jurisdictions — checkout will block a receiving location in any of them.

Where they're legal

In the other 42 states, civilian suppressor ownership is legal under the federal NFA process. That said, "legal to own" doesn't always mean "no rules" — some states that permit ownership still restrict how you can use a suppressor, and city or county rules can layer on more. Always confirm your specific state's ownership and use rules before you buy.

Owning vs. using

It's worth separating two questions: can you own a suppressor where you live, and can you use it the way you intend? A handful of states allow possession but limit use — for example, restricting suppressor use while hunting. If you're buying for a specific purpose, confirm that purpose is allowed too, not just ownership.

How Piece & Quiet handles this

At checkout, we block receiving locations in the prohibited states and DC. Beyond that, your chosen receiving FFL is your local compliance checkpoint — a licensed dealer won't complete a transfer that isn't legal where you are. But the responsibility to confirm you can legally own and use a suppressor in your jurisdiction is ultimately yours.