Shooting with a silencer sounds cool (pun intended). However, there are some disadvantages. Let's remember what suppression does, it helps contain expanding gas that released once the weapon is fired. The baffles inside a suppressor create a slight reverse pressure needed to suppress the gases leaving the barrel. This causes a few different things to happen.

1. Extra carbon build up (the gun gets really dirty)
2. Gas blow back
3. Poor sight picture

All guns will get very dirty when you shoot them suppressed. Some more than others, but expect to see the internals become about twice as dirty as usual. Even using quality ammo, you may also see an increased amount of nitrocellulose. Especially if shooting "wet." It's easily fixed with a good cleaning.

The bigger problem is the gas blow back. Suppressing an AR-15 will result in significant gas in your face. A short barreled AR makes matters even worse. There are several techniques and parts which can help reduce this, but don't be shocked when you fire off the first few rounds and see a small cloud of while smoke.

It is less noticeable on pistols, but you will see smoke escaping from the rear of the gun. It usually starts to come out from the cracks around the hammer or between the slide and frame. Once the slide locks back on the last round fired you will usually see a small amount of white smoke escape from the breech. If you are shooting outdoors, the blow back from any guns is less noticeable. However, indoors it can create quite a disturbance to other shooters around you.

One of the last disadvantages to shooting a pistol with a suppressor is sight picture. Without raised or "tactical" sights, the top of the silencer will usually cover the sight posts. That will make shooting at a distance a little harder. Rifles are usually not affected as their sight systems are generally much higher over the bore, or use a scope.

There is much debate over this topic, and many factors go into the answer. Here is my method, and why I use it. First, I shoot often. Usually weekly or bi-weekly which makes cleaning guns a lot of work. Many people will tell you that guns need to be cleaned each and every time you shoot them. Can you over-clean your guns? No. As long as you are using safe cleaning chemicals and practices it will not hurt your gun.

I for one, do not have an extra 30 minutes to an hour every time I shoot to clean them afterwards. I usually clean my pistols about every 5th time I shoot them with time permitting. If I shoot suppressed, I usually try to do it every 3rd or 4th time due to the extra carbon. Rifles are a different story. The .22 rifles will get dirty rather quickly because I usually send a few hundred rounds down range each time I shoot them. With the amount of rim fire ammo and type the internals can get caked up enough to cause feed problems.

Center fire rifles like AR-15s will get pretty dirty. The design and mechanics of the gun put carbon in every nook and cranny possible. So, if you want it spotless be prepared to spend some time cleaning it. I have gone months, with over 1000 rounds fired and not cleaned or oiled the weapon. It still fired and I never had any problems until I decided to clean it. What a mistake, it was 10 times harder to clean once the large amount of carbon was able to sit on the internals and cake onto all the metal parts. I try to clean ARs and shotguns every 3 or 4 times I shoot them to avoid this problem.

You may also wish to read another article covering the tools and chemicals for cleaning guns.

In the state of Florida, there is a program called pre-trial intervention (PTI). PTI is part of a state program to reduce the number of first time offenders that are convicted. More importantly, it's a way to ensure you are not prosecuted for a crime and have the ability to have the arrest later expunged.

If you were arrested and completed PTI, you are eligible for a concealed carry permit. You will pass the background check even if you have not had your arrest record expunged. You will also pass the background check for a standard 4473 and/or an NFA background check.