Illinois SWAT Gets OK on Silencers

February 9, 2012 9:44 AM

SOURCE: CBS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) -Under a just passed law, Illinois SWAT units can now attach silencers to their weapons.  The silencer is designed to give police special operations teams the advantage if they find themselves in a firefight .

The sponsor of the measure, state senator Dave Koehler says if police have to enter a room and fire their weapons the silencer allows them to concentrate on their target.

“Hearing loss of up to 15 seconds can make a big difference between whether hostages are killed or not.”

The law passed unanimously. Koehler says the strict guidelines apply only to special police units….for the average person owning a silencer is a class three felony and can get you two to five years in federal prison.