User blog comment:CoDE-2K/Suggestion for Infinity Ward and Treyarch/@comment-1913529-20140121064404/@comment-25494464-20140121113559

>Saying everything needs a counter

As MLG said, the Silencer has it's own balancing factor (which isn't really a counter, just plain balancing out). You gain stealth benefits and reduced muzzle flash, but you lose a good chunk of your range (or have your damage decreased, depending on which weapon you have).