1916 N.Y. Laws 338-39, An Act to Amend the Penal Law, in Relation to the Selling or Possessing of Silencers for Firearms, ch. 137, § 1.

Chapter eighty-eight . . . to read as follows: § 1897-n. Selling, carrying and use of firearm silencers. A person who sells or keeps for sale, or offers, or gives or disposes of, or who shall have or carry concealed upon his person any instrument, attachment, weapon or appliance for causing the firing of any gun, revolver, pistol, or other firearms to be silent or intended to lessen or muffle the noise of the firing of any gun, revolver, pistol, or other firearms shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years. This section shall not apply to the regular and ordinary transportation of any instrument, attachment, weapon or appliance for causing the firing of any gun, revolver, pistol, or other firearms to be silent or intended to lessen or muffle the noise of the firing of any gun, revolver, pistol, or other firearms, as merchandise, nor to sheriffs, policemen, or to other duly appointed peace officers, nor to duly authorized military or civil organizations, nor when parading, nor to the members thereof when going to and from the place of meeting their respective organizations, nor to duly authorized military and civil organizations in practice.