Add EU noise directive 2002/49/EC that Ireland has implimented. Reducing noise at the source. States that any noise that is above 85 Db should be tackled at source first,and that issuing hearing protection is a poor 2nd best option.I used this in an application for a 308 SA,it was accepted as sufficient good reason by the AGS firearms branch.

Or "can" if you spend too much time on US forums!

EDIT. slight correction on this post ,should be the EU directive 10/2003 article 3 which is no doubt in Irish legislation.This covers the point on reducing noise at source first. The 2002/49/EC directive is still valid as it covers also reducing unwanted noise in the countryside and quiet areas.

As Sparks said in that Dail hearing when taking down Angeus O Snoddigh TD [SF] on this point. "Words have meanings"....Forget the rest of what he said but it basically refuted O Snotty's claim that all firearms are potential weapons and should be called such.

There is nothing wrong , incorrect or shifty in explaining a term or terms for an item that has been confused even in our legislation to the point that these are considered by some to be the equivalent of a sinister type of assassins equipment.

I take your point however I don't get too hung up on semantics. I know what someone is on about when they say silencer/mod/suppressor but if it's part of a wider conversation casting the sport in a bad light I'll correct them. I started googling a few terms there to get definitions, a suppressor doesn't seem to be technically correct either as: " to end or stop (something) by force" doesn't fit as a moderator only reduces the noise. I did find a definition of weapon that included hunting but for the most part weapons are defined as something used in conflict.