COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Members of the Ohio House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve a bill that would allow Ohioans to hunt with noise suppressors on their firearms.

Sponsored by Republican Reps. Cheryl Grossman, of Grove City, and John Becker, of Union Township, House Bill 234 would allow noise suppressors on firearms while Ohioans hunt game birds and wild quadrupeds.

Hunting advocates have said the suppressors would primarily be used on firearms for hunting varmint animals, such as groundhogs. The bill saw little opposition during committee hearings.

One of the

was the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, whose members at first thought suppressor use could lead to "evil and nefarious action," John Murphy, the association's executive director, later said in January. Murphy called that position a "knee jerk" reaction after it was retracted last fall.

Others were concerned the suppressors would completely silence gunshots, in a way similar to those seen in

James Bond

movies. Legislators took a trip to a Central Ohio gun range Feb. 3 to measure a silencer's effect on sound. Some,

, tried out the silencers themselves.

conducted at the range by Eric Bielefeld, assistant professor of speech and hearing science at Ohio State University, it was found that the suppressors brought sound down about 15 to 20 decibels, to levels hovering at about 100 decibels — depending on the type of gun — which is comparable to that of a rock concert.

Grossman said on the House floor that she's heard from Ohioans who say hunting without suppressors has permanently harmed their hearing.

"Many are with hearing aids now," Grossman said. Becker added that the sound would still be loud enough for landowners to hear hunters trespassing on their property.

Becker has sponsored

since taking office last year. House Bill 234 is the first to be voted out of the House.

Noise suppressor registration includes a $200 tax and a waiting period that typically lasts about eight to 12 months.

Sam Howard is a fellow in Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Statehouse News Bureau. Follow him on Twitter @SamuelHHoward.