Silencers, suppressors, moderators.

[PeterN2]

Call them what you will, since 1937 in UK law, they have been given the same status as a firearm. To possess one, it had to be applied for and entered on your Firearm Certificate as if it was a firearm. This did not apply to air rifles. If you had a moderator for, say, a .22 air rifle, then no certification applied. However, if you wanted to screw that same moderator to a .22 rim fire rifle, then the certification process applied. A stupid state of affairs.
A process has now started to remove moderators from the certification process to make them a non controlled item. It will take a few months or even in to next year, but it should happen.
A small win for the shooting community and it will save the Police from processing applications to possess a small hollow tube that is not a threat to anyone. Why they were ever made a certificated item is a mystery. Perhaps the powers that be watched too many gangster movies where the gangster fired his pistol and it went 'phut' and they thought it a threat.
Regards
Peter.

[Niner]

Apparently 42 US states allow their citizens to have silencers without a permit. However states can regulate the use according to their own notions:

Eight states outlaw suppressor purchase and use — California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Citizens also can’t legally own suppressors in the District of Columbia.

I've seen other statements that the BATF could prosecute owners of silencing devices......but apparently they are the same people who are legally prohibited from owning firearms in the first place, regardless of what state they reside.

A quick look online for sales for a silencer for a .22 and I see prices higher than the value of any .22 I own.

[Aughnanure]

Banned Australia wide and for hunting I agree, every shot fired in the field scares game and that’s the way it should be, gives the animals more of a sporting chance.

[DuncaninFrance]

Maybe Eoin but I have one on my TOZ .22lr which I use on rabbits but it also keeps the neighbours in ignorance of my bunnybashing!

[Aughnanure]

That’s harvesting, Duncan.
Never did believe in\ giving bunnies any warning, used to shoot them in squats with a .22 pistol.

[DuncaninFrance]

That’s harvesting, Duncan.
Never did believe in\ giving bunnies any warning, used to shoot them in squats with a .22 pistol.