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Culture War Roundup for the week of December 2, 2024

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Firearms training sufficient to clear multiple malfunctions

The shooter was using subsonic ammunition that did not have the necessary oomph behind it to work the action - he knew the slide was going to need to be racked after each shot.

He also either stole the suppressor (unlikely) or passed a very rigorous background check by the ATF to acquire it. Recently, wait times for suppressors have dropped from ~6 months to just a couple of days, a rare instance of a government org suddenly getting more efficient.

The shooter was using subsonic ammunition that did not have the necessary oomph behind it to work the action - he knew the slide was going to need to be racked after each shot.

Or he was using a homemade suppressor that did not incorporate a Nielsen device.

Because most semi-automatic pistols for sale utilize a moving barrel of one type or another, adding a suppressor (or any 9mm muzzle device) to the end of that barrel can have a detrimental effect to the firearm’s reliability, even in some cases to the point of preventing the gun from cycling at all. To remedy this, handgun suppressors commonly use a Nielsen device, also sometimes referred to as a piston or booster. This device increases the amount of energy that is directed rearward into the firearm’s barrel, counteracting the weight of the suppressor at the end and aiding in unlocking the action during the firing cycle.

I would be very surprised if he acquired this suppressor legally, and fairly surprised if he stole it.

It's also possible he bought a solvent trap off eBay.

You can go on a road trip and get them with cash:

https://jkarmament.com/find-a-dealer/

He also either stole the suppressor (unlikely) or passed a very rigorous background check by the ATF to acquire it.

Building a suppressor is not difficult.

This is true. I'm not sure I would necessarily trust the success of an assassination attempt to one I made myself, but there are obvious reasons to DIY of course

You can test the suppressor before using it in your assassination attempt lol. That's not a real issue.

Sure. It's a simple device. I haven't done it, but I'd be surprised if the average joe's DIY can is as quiet as the products other people develop. This one, if DIY, failed to return the gun to battery multiple times. Like I said - not a compromise I would make, even against a soft target.

It's very easy with the partially made kits you can get for cash. They sell a overpriced guide so you can't mess up with a hand drill if you don't feel confident enough to free hand it or have a drill press. Buy a few and practice; most of the baffles are interchangeable.