Supreme Court Strikes Down Federal Ban on Bump Stocks

The U.S. Supreme Court made a significant decision by striking down the federal ban on bump stocks, a ruling that has stirred debate and controversy. The court overturned the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives‘ ban on bump stocks, which are devices that can enable automatic fire from semi-automatic guns.

The vote of 6-3, with the court’s conservative majority prevailing, marks a turning point in the legal battle over the regulation of firearms. Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, highlighted that a semi-automatic rifle with a bump stock does not meet the statutory definition of a machine gun, as it does not fire multiple shots with a single trigger function.

President Trump‘s 2018 directive to ban bump stocks was a response to the tragic Las Vegas shooting, where a lone gunman, using modified guns equipped with bump stocks, carried out a devastating attack that claimed numerous lives and left hundreds injured.

The case, initiated by a gun shop owner in Austin, Texas, who had to surrender bump stocks after the ban, resulted in the Supreme Court’s ruling that the ATF had overstepped its bounds in categorizing bump stocks as machine guns.

Justice Samuel Alito, in a concurring opinion, emphasized the clarity of the statutory language and suggested that any adjustments to the law should come from Congress. Meanwhile, the dissent, articulated by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, expressed concern over the majority’s narrow interpretation and its potential impact on gun violence prevention measures.

President Biden swiftly responded to the decision, criticizing it for jeopardizing public safety and urging Congress to enact legislation to ban bump stocks, enforce an assault weapon ban, and take additional steps to curb violence.