Army veteran Paul Murphy is suing the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Department of Public Safety (DPS), over the ban on gun silencers.
This stemmed from a denial by DPS Commissioner, Anthony Macaranas, to Murphy's request to possess a gun silencer or sound suppressor.
Murphy claims the ban violates his Second and 14th Amendment rights, and that silencers are commonly used for lawful purposes in the U.S. He argues that CNMI's restrictions are unconstitutional.
In the federal lawsuit, Murphy is asking the court to overturn the law and prevent DPS from enforcing it. While the Second Amendment protects the right to own firearms, silencers are regulated under additional federal laws.
While critics question why silencers are necessary in Saipan, former police officer Jason Tarkong expressed support for Murphy's stance.
"There's a lot of states - Texas - you can open carry. They have very loose gun laws, including Vegas and all that," said Tarkong. "So to me, if it is the law, and it is approved, then I have no problem and I agree with it."
This isn't Murphy's first legal challenge. In 2016, he successfully overturned other CNMI gun laws and has since filed similar lawsuits against the government.
DPS has not yet responded to the refiled lawsuit.
