More of our research is reposted at American Liberty.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) claims that suppressors make mass public shootings more deadly. Between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2024, there were 104 mass public shootings, but only two of those involved suppressors (Virginia Beach, Virginia in 2019 and Milwaukee in 2020). The average number of casualties from mass public shootings with suppressors is actually lower than the average without (11 v. 19.8), though the average number of people murdered is exactly the same as (8.5 v. 8.5).
Senator Murphy also claims that suppressors will make it so that “no one will be able to hear the gun shots.” But AR-15s or .45 caliber handguns are as quiet as a jackhammer is at close range. Of course, when Senator Murphy says “think of how many more classrooms that shooter can get into, . . . think of how many more rooms in a church that mass murderer might get to,” firing a gun within an enclosed space does make the sound of the shot louder and more intense for those inside a building. In an enclosed space (like a room or vehicle), the sound waves from a gunshot rebound off walls and surfaces, amplifying the noise.
Regulations governing firearm suppressors (also known as silencers) vary significantly across Europe, ranging from permissive to very restrictive, but despite higher per capita rates of mass public shootings in some of these countries, there are no mentions of suppressors being used in mass public shootings. Suppressors remain unregulated in Norway, and anyone can purchase them without a license. As of July 1, 2022, Sweden no longer considers suppressors as firearm parts, allowing anyone with a permit for the associated firearm to own one without a specific license. In France, suppressors are legal and don’t require a license. In fact, French authorities may penalize gun owners who fail to use suppressors, citing the need to minimize noise disturbances.
Murphy claims that “silencers are the tools of killers, they are the tools of criminals.” Despite the fact that there were 3.54 million legally owned suppressors in 2024, up from 2.66 million in 2021, and that they are fairly easy to make, suppressors are rarely used in crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported recommending prosecutions for only about 44 silencer-related crimes annually over a decade, equating to approximately 0.003% of registered suppressors being used in crimes each year.
According to ChatGPT: “Making a suppressor (or “silencer”) for a firearm is technically not very difficult for someone with moderate mechanical skills and access to basic metalworking tools. . . . the technical skills required to build a suppressor are within reach for many hobbyists.” Indeed, there are guides to making them on the internet.
“Dem Senator Sparks Outrage With Wild Claim About Gun Suppressors,” American Liberty, June 24, 2025.
