[blahyawnblah]

You have to wait at least 8 months (it varies) to get a suppressor when you buy one. You also have to submit passport photos, get finger printed by either the sheriff or police chief, and then wait. This is in addition to a regular NICS type check.

[dole]

Also a $200 tax stamp for each suppressor. Again, someone COULD buy a manufactured suppressor legally and tie all their credit info and everything back but according to the news this shooter:

1. Traveled on a Greyhound bus from somewhere between Atlanta to New York in the past 5-10 days

2. Used a fake New Jersey driver's license to register at the hostel he was staying at

3. reportedly wore a mask indoors consistently while staying in the hostel

4. paid cash for everything

[kube-system]

He also didn't leave the gun or suppressor behind, so it being tied to his real identity isn't a link to the crime scene.

[srj]

ATF approvals for individuals are much faster now. Last week I got a Form 4 approval in just 2-3 days.

[sky_rw]

FYI these wait times are now down to about 2 weeks. The ATF decided to do the bare minimum of process improvements and had a ~10X increase in efficiency.

[kube-system]

And you have to have a home address in a state where they are allowed... e.g. not NY. But yeah, I don't think it is incorrect to say they are "hard" to get, especially in context here.

[sneed_chucker]

Not any more. An E-Form 4 is now processed in a week or two.