I know if I had to fire my AR-15 inside my home in self defense that I would suffer severe hearing damage. My ears still ring after range time with plugs and Muffs. No idea how our soldiers manage that.
Suppressors get people thinking James Bond silent. Nothing could be further from the truth. Firearms are still plenty loud with them and hearing protection is still recommended.
Outside of the unconstitutional aspect of the bureaucratic hurdles to ownership the argument could easily framed as a public health issue in my view.
Adrenaline burst during fight or flight takes care of that for you, the gun fire can sometimes be reduced to a pop noise or nothing at all.
Can have the same effect when out hunting.
But as you've found out, some people are still at risk even doubling up with plugs under muffs. Best of luck to you.
Depends on what’s being suppressed. Muzzle blast can be mitigated to negligible. Velocity, for some, can be viable subsonic - eliminating sonic crack. A suppressed AR15 is still loud as a full-speed .22LR thanks to viable velocity. A suppressed subsonic .22LR bolt is barely a pfft.
Ha! You've never had to shoot to protect your life then. Trust me, you'll probably never hear the shot. Adrenaline does funny things to you when you are scared shitless.....Oh, and if you pee in your pants and have a large turd in your shorts...don't worry...thats normal also (and means that you are not stupid).