Now - it is perfectly understood that silencers do NOT 'silence' - just knock the level of pain and damage to the ears down (on a rifle) from unbearable immediate damage to barely tolerable and still damaging levels.
And, they are useless on fully-automatic setting for more than just a few rounds.
Trying (and currently still floundering) to recall the name, full location and detais, of that sniper in Vietnam who took on a North Vietnamese Regiment coming to the rescue of soldiers in an outpost that were completely cut-off, with no air support possible. During the incredible feats of that sniper - he made a makeshift silencer to help make it harder for the enemy to locate him. Actually, it was for flash suppression. Thing caught on fire after a bit, causing him a bit of unwanted attention.
Point being - the use of a 'silencer' is NOT just for suppressing sound - it is also a pretty effective flash suppressor. Something to keep in mind while hearing the so-called experts arguing about the silencer idiocy, on both sides of the issue.
BTW: I fully support the 2nd Ammendment RIGHT of any American to own fully automatic weapons, tanks, sniper scopes, silencers - any armaments that are legal for our military and/or legal for law enforcement - including vests and other protective gear. It ain't there for hunting four legged animals, birds, reptiles - the 2nd is there for "When in the course of human events ...".
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