[Alpo]

First, you gotta live somewhere they are allowed. They are not legal in all states, but they are in most of them.

Second, find the silencer you want.

Third, pay for the silencer. You see, once the paperwork comes back saying you own the item, then it is illegal for the previous owner to have it. He must turn it over to you, whether you have paid for it or not. If he waits for the paper to come back before you pay, you can legally take it without paying for it. So nobody is going to start doing any paperwork until you have completely paid for the item.

Fourth, fill out the transfer form and get it signed off by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (also called the CLEO) where you live. This could be the Sheriff, the Chief of Police, the District Attorney. Once the CLEO has signed off on it, you send the form (two copies of the form, actually), two pictures, two sets of fingerprints (on ATF print cards) a copy of the form that says you are a citizen and a check for 200 bucks to the ATF. Not sure where. Used to be in Chicago, but I think it's in DC now.

Fifth, wait. My shortest wait time on an NFA item was 6 weeks (with Bush in office). My longest was 13 months (with Clinton in office). You wait.

Eventually you will get a response. Either "yes he can have it" or "no, he can't". Whatever the response is, you don't get your 200 back. They turn you down - too bad, so sad.

Also, if they turn you down, there is a real good chance that the seller won't give you your money back. If you're buying from a dealer, me may, or he may just hold it (it's registered to him) and try to sell it for you. If he can't get as much for it this time as you paid for it the first time, then you're out of luck. He will probably take a commission on it whatever he gets for it.

So it will do your pocketbook good to make sure you have a squeaky clean record before attempting to transfer NFA stuff.