You can even get a supressor in the U.K. without any extra hassle. When will our legislators wake up and realize these are safety devices, not assassins tools. I'm so glad Hollywood aids in making our firearms laws. Puke
In the UK you need to apply for permission to purchase each individual gun. For each gun you need to demonstrate a 'good reason' for wanting to possess it e.g. "1x .240 rifle, deer hunting," "1x .308 rifle, target shooting," etc.
Suppressors are treated the same as a firearm, so you apply for permission to possess a suppressor (or a specified number of suppressors) in a particular caliber or calibers (need a good reason for each one). Good reason would certainly be for use when hunting, but you may have no luck if you just want a suppressor for target shooting. This depends on the police force in your area and how gun-friendly they are.
The idea that suppressors are easier to get in the UK than the USA is a bit of a fallacy. In order to get one you need to:
Fill out an application form
Have two referees sign the form stating that you are suitable to own firearms
Supply several photographs of yourself
Sign, and have your referees sign, the photographs stating that they are a true and current likeness of yourself
State a reason on the form for wanting the specified guns/suppressors
Provide evidence of this reason e.g. a letter from a landowner who will allow
you to hunt on his land, membership of an approved gun club
Importantly, if you have stated 'target shooting' as your reason, and thus need to prove membership of an approved gun club, this membership can only be gained after a minimum of three months of attendance at the club i.e. unless you know someone who owns land you can hunt on and the gun you want is suitable for hunting, there's a 3 month waiting period before you can even apply.
Pay a £50 (~$80) application fee
Wait a few weeks to a few months (depending on the police force in your area and their workload at the time)
Allow a police officer into your home (or wherever you plan to store the guns) to assess security. You need a gun cabinet large enough to hold everything you have applied for.
Make any additional changes he recommends e.g. installing a burglar alarm, replacing doors/locks etc, and then allow him back to check.
Wait a few weeks to a few months more
After all that, you may get your suppressor.
As I understand it, while you pay more in the US ($200) the application for a suppressor is actually less strenuous and takes about the same time. The difference is that in the UK you need to do all of this just to own a single shot .22 rifle. Once you've gone through all of the above, adding additional guns (or a suppressor) to the list of what you're allowed to own is not so difficult. For this you:
Fill out a form
State your good reason
Wait a few weeks
But as I say, the police still need to be convinced of your good reason. Unless you're hunting, that may be impossible. It's not that it's easier, it's just that we
have to go through all that stuff just to get guns. For you it's optional so most don't bother with it and go without suppressors.
