Gun Control Reform Activism

On many guns, the suppressor only lowers the noise level to "won't make your ears bleed" levels.

An unsuppressed AR-15, for example is about 150-160 db. With a good suppressor, it's about 120-130 db. That is still VERY LOUD. In fact, you still need to wear hearing protection, but you don't have to wear both plugs AND muffs. You could take a few shots without protection and not do too much damage.

HOWEVER, you ARE able to get the sound down to safe levels with good plugs or muffs, and you are much less likely to cause inadvertent hearing damage to people nearby, and you're much less likely to annoy the folks living close to the range.... or near your hunting ground (though I am not a hunter).

Sound suppressors are one of those things that SHOULD be uncontroversial. They aren't really well suited to crime, since good ones are expensive, and they make the weapon very difficult to conceal, and don't offer the covert shooting capability think they do. But as with everything associated with guns, it's not really about the facts, but the emotions.