Laws that restrict access to firearms, and their accessories from people who are neither inclined or determined to use them unlawfully accomplishes absolutely nothing! The argument that the Hearing Protection Act of 2017 is mostly about preserving hearing is amusing to me. I personally think it was more of a creative way of packaging the bill making it easier for people to swallow. Silencers or suppressors are regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934 which imposed strict oversite, and a $200 transfer tax. Contrary to popular belief silencers were not added to the NFA because of rampant use by would be assassins. Poaching during the great depression was more of a concern, and adding silencers to the NFA was though to prevent "quiet" poaching. Hollywood can be blamed for the miss representation of what silencers really sound like, as well as their use only by assassins. Federally silencers have never been illegal to own. However some states still to this day have banned ownership of them. I can see no rational reason why silencers should remain regulated under the NFA. After purchasing a silencer from a gun shop, ATF form 4 is filled out, finger prints are taken, the forms are mail out, and the waiting begins. My first silencer purchase in 2006, under the current process took 28 days to get an approval back. The current waiting time for approvals are reportedly taken 8 - 14 months, due to the increased popularity, and the lack of ATF examiners. The Hearing Protection Act merely updates and 83 year old way of doing a background check, and transfer it to the FBI NICS background check system. Silencers would be treated the same as any other firearm purchase from a gun shop.