Thanks for all the "pointers"... what I meant by "toning down" was constructing a device like Jon described... not that I'd have any knowledge of illegal "silencing" devices or anything 
Even a short has enough staccato to raise the attention of my "busy body, nothing to do but snoop, & alert the LEOs to ALL illegal activity (except their own!)" neighbors... 
However, a gang of juvies broke into & raided several houses in the neighborhood during the spring... nobody saw a thing 
