The Supreme Court invalidated a federal rule enacted during the Trump administration banning bump stocks, devices that increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons. The ruling found that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives exceeded its authority with the ban following the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. Justice Clarence Thomas delivered the opinion of the conservative majority, stating that a bump stock does not convert a semi-automatic rifle into a machine gun. The court’s decision is a blow to efforts to combat gun violence through federal regulations.
The opinions in the case were split, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissenting from the bench and insisting that a rifle equipped with a bump stock should be classified as a machine gun. Sotomayor warned that the ruling will have “deadly consequences” by limiting the government’s ability to regulate firearms. In response to the decision, President Biden called for Congress to pass legislation banning bump stocks and assault weapons. The ATF director expressed readiness to work with Congress to address the threat posed by bump stocks. Advocates of the ruling praised the decision, asserting that ATF overstepped its authority in implementing the ban.
Bump stocks are attachments that increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic rifles, allowing them to fire hundreds of rounds per minute. The ATF banned bump stocks in 2018, but the Supreme Court has now overturned that decision. The case focused on whether the ATF had the legal authority to categorize bump stocks as machine guns. The ban took effect in 2019, with existing bump stock owners required to surrender or destroy the devices. The ruling, which was based on a close analysis of the mechanics of semi-automatic weapons, has implications for future gun control efforts.
The majority opinion of the Supreme Court argued that the statute still regulates traditional machine guns despite the ruling on bump stocks. Justice Samuel Alito suggested that any discrepancy in the law could be rectified through legislation. Gun violence prevention groups expressed concern about the decision, arguing that bump stocks are dangerous and should be banned. They called on Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to address the issue. The ruling raises questions about the government’s ability to regulate firearms and the role of federal agencies in implementing such regulations.
