Supreme Court Ends Federal Ban on Bump Stocks
The U.S. Supreme Court recently stopped a federal ban on bump stocks, raising concerns about public safety. This decision shows how limited agency rules can be if lawmakers do not give clear instructions.
What Are Bump Stocks?
Bump stocks are devices that help semiautomatic rifles shoot almost as quickly as machine guns. Many people first heard about bump stocks after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. In that attack, a gunman added bump stocks to his rifles, killing 58 people and hurting hundreds more in only a few minutes.
How the Ban Happened
After the Las Vegas tragedy, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) decided to ban bump stocks. The ATF said bump stocks turned semiautomatic rifles into machine guns based on their reading of federal law.
The Supreme Court’s Ruling
In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court said the ATF did not have the power to ban bump stocks this way. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that, although bump stocks allow for much faster firing, they do not make semiautomatic rifles the same as machine guns under the law’s wording. The Court’s conservative majority said only Congress has the right to change the law to add bump stocks.
What the Decision Means
This decision does not call bump stocks safe—only that the law does not ban them right now. The justices said the executive branch cannot ban these devices by itself. If bump stocks are to be restricted, Congress must pass a new law.
Why Action Is Needed
The Las Vegas shooting showed how dangerous bump stocks can be. Public safety depends on clear rules about rapid-fire weapons. Congress should act quickly to fix the rules and make sure people cannot get devices made to get around machine gun laws.
The Job of Lawmakers
The Supreme Court’s ruling urges lawmakers to do their job. Agencies like the ATF can only enforce laws as they are written. When safety is at risk, it is Congress’s duty to write strong laws that protect people from such tragedies.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently stopped a federal ban on bump stocks, raising concerns about public safety. This decision shows how limited agency rules can be if lawmakers do not give clear instructions.
What Are Bump Stocks?
Bump stocks are devices that help semiautomatic rifles shoot almost as quickly as machine guns. Many people first heard about bump stocks after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. In that attack, a gunman added bump stocks to his rifles, killing 58 people and hurting hundreds more in only a few minutes.
How the Ban Happened
After the Las Vegas tragedy, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) decided to ban bump stocks. The ATF said bump stocks turned semiautomatic rifles into machine guns based on their reading of federal law.
The Supreme Court’s Ruling
In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court said the ATF did not have the power to ban bump stocks this way. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that, although bump stocks allow for much faster firing, they do not make semiautomatic rifles the same as machine guns under the law’s wording. The Court’s conservative majority said only Congress has the right to change the law to add bump stocks.
What the Decision Means
This decision does not call bump stocks safe—only that the law does not ban them right now. The justices said the executive branch cannot ban these devices by itself. If bump stocks are to be restricted, Congress must pass a new law.
Why Action Is Needed
The Las Vegas shooting showed how dangerous bump stocks can be. Public safety depends on clear rules about rapid-fire weapons. Congress should act quickly to fix the rules and make sure people cannot get devices made to get around machine gun laws.
The Job of Lawmakers
The Supreme Court’s ruling urges lawmakers to do their job. Agencies like the ATF can only enforce laws as they are written. When safety is at risk, it is Congress’s duty to write strong laws that protect people from such tragedies.