Law enforcement officials recovered a ‘silencer’ from the scene of Friday’s deadly shooting in Virginia Beach. Several politicians have since called for outright bans on private possession of the devices. Here are key facts about suppressors/silencers. Politicians are calling for a ban on ‘silencers’ after a disgruntled Virginia Beach, Virginia, city employee used one while gunning down 12 co-workers. It was reported that the gunman, DeWayne Craddock, 40, used two .45-caliber handguns equipped with “extended” magazines and one with a suppressor.