Governor vetos firearm suppressor bill

The governor has vetoed a bill that would’ve legalized firearm suppressors on Guam. 

Sen. Tony Ada’s measure, which passed by a slim 7 to 6 vote, was meant to provide hearing protection for gun users during training or other activity. But in her veto message, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said that the benefits of removing suppressor restrictions do not outweigh the associated risks. She said the sound of gunfire is one of the most easily recognizable warnings that a weapon has been fired in a person’s vicinity, and it enables that person to get to safety.

The governor states that, “On balance, we must continue to prioritize the community's safety from potentially life-threatening harm over the auditory safety of the few.”

She adds that gun users' hearing concerns can otherwise be mitigated by the proper use of earplugs or earmuffs.