Photo courtesy ATF
Today, Tuesday, March 26, the long-dreaded bump stock ban has gone into effect, making it illegal to possess or sell a bump stock, a device which assists a rifleman to increase the rate of fire in a semiautomatic rifle.
The firearms community is up in arms, while many others still don’t even understand what the device was in the first place.
Just like two years ago, when the issue came roaring to the forefront of the Second Amendment debate.
The bump stock ban was born of the Trump administration following the horrendous 2017 Las Vegas massacre, in which such devices were utilized.
Now, law-abiding citizens are paying the price.
To quote the ATF directly;
The final rule clarifies that the definition of “machinegun” in the Gun Control Act (GCA) and National Firearms Act (NFA) includes bump-stock-type devices, i.e., devices that allow a semiautomatic firearm to shoot more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger by harnessing the recoil energy of the semiautomatic firearm to which it is affixed so that the trigger resets and continues firing without additional physical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
The ATF further states that;
Current possessors of bump-stock-type devices must divest themselves of possession as of the effective date of the final rule (March 26, 2019). One option is to destroy the device, and the final rule identifies possible methods of destruction, to include completely melting, shredding, or crushing the device. Any method of destruction must render the device incapable of being readily restored to function.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
While it is not certain how many such devices are currently among the American public, one this is known: folks aren’t complying readily. Officials from Rhode Island, a state which has had a bump stock ban in effect for months, have noted that no bumps stocks have been turned in, as per WPRI.
That’s right — none.
What does that mean for us?
Well, for starters, the American people have lost a portion of their rights. That’s plain as day.
What’s more, people aren’t complying. While individuals and organizations galvanize for runs to local and high-level courts to overturn this law, there is a very real threat previously law-abiding citizens will fall victim to this little turn in American firearms history.
For now, it’s wait-and-see.
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