Bump Stocks

Congressional republicans appear open to the idea of a federal ban on bump stocks, a device that enables a semiautomatic rifle to fire faster. Twelve of the rifles found in the hotel room of the gunman of the Las Vegas mass shooting were modified with bump stocks. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said he would support banning bump stocks, while Sen. Jon Cornyn of Texas, the senate majority whip, indicated that he would be open to the idea. House Speaker Paul Ryan has also expressed openness to a federal ban and other senate republicans, such as Lindsey Graham and John McCain, also revealed they were open to hearings about a federal ban on bump stocks. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and several others oppose any outright ban on bum stocks, fearing that passing a legislative federal ban will lead to a slippery slope for gun control in the future. Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo introduced bipartisan legislation with Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton to ban bump stocks last Thursday.

The National Rifle Association, a powerful U.S. gun lobby, stopped short of supporting an outright federal ban on bump stocks. However, they said on Sunday that they support restrictions and regulations of bump stocks.