Federal Government Bans Firearm Bump-Stocks

Today the Trump administration issued new rules that ban the possession of bump stocks.

A bump stock is an attachment to a semi-automatic rifles. A bump stock goes back and forth (bumps) between a person’s shoulder and trigger finger. This action enables the gun to create fast and sustained bursts of shootings. A bump stock is a device that creates similar power to a fully-automatic weapon, which is illegal in the U.S.

As of March 26, 2019, bump stock possession is a federal crime.

Bump stocks came to the attention of the public and politicians after the Las Vegas shooting in which 58 people died. The shooter there used a bump stock.

What Does the New Law Do?

Under the ban, those in possession of a bump stock will have 90 days from today to either destroy the bump stock or turn it into the ATF. Instructions for acceptable methods of bump stock destruction are posted on the ATF’s website.

Legally speaking, the law reclassifies bump stocks as “machine guns.” Under the federal Gun Control Act, machine guns manufactured after 1986 are illegal to possess. A person still needs a federal license to possess a machine gun made before 1986.

While exact numbers are unavailable, it is believed that at least 10,000 bump stock are in the country.

State Bump Stock Laws

While the federal government has not banned bump stocks until now, some states have already made possession of bump stocks illegal. At a minimum, and there may be more, states that have laws banning bump stocks include – New York, New Jersey, Florida, Vermont, Delaware, Maryland, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada, and Washington D.C.

Lawsuits Challenging the Bump Stock Ban Are Expected

Pro-gun ownership groups are expected to challenge the bump stock ban. As of September 6, 2019, the author knows of five legal challenges to the bump stock ban.

Call us

Call Sam Bernstein at 734-883-9584 or e-mail at bernstein@arborypsilaw.com.

Sam Bernstein is a Criminal Lawyer in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

ArborYpsi Law is located at 2750 Carpenter Rd #2, Ann Arbor, MI.

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