Trump Takes First Steps To Ban ‘Bump Stocks’ In Wake Of Florida Massacre
The new law will ban the firearm modification
© presss
The Trump administration has taken its first steps to ban ‘bump stocks’ as it formally submitted the legislation to ban the modification on Saturday.
The new law will ban the firearm modification which enables high high-capacity rifles the ability to shoot as machine guns.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) submitted a regulation notice which said it will l “clarify that the definition of “machinegun” within the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act including bump stock type devices.
The federal law will prohibit the possession, manufacture or sale of such devices.
According to RT: Saturday’s move comes just two weeks after President Donald Trump said that he had directed the DOJ to propose the rule change.
President Donald Trump has signed a memo directing the Justice Department to outlaw bump stock devices on guns. The announcement comes after renewed calls to take action in the wake of the Florida shooting.
“President Trump is absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of every American and he has directed us to propose a regulation addressing bump stocks,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said.
The bill I signed today to ban bump stock devices is just one modest step to help prevent gun violence. Proud to have Washington join other states to ban these devices that have already taken too many lives. pic.twitter.com/9UgmpKN87W
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) March 6, 2018
The February 14 Parkland high school shooting in Florida has reignited the gun control debate in the US. Although the alleged shooter, 19-year-old Nicolas Cruz, did not use a bump stock device, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, signed a bill into law on Friday, banning the modification as well as raising the minimum age for purchasing a firearm in the state from 18 to 21.
However, the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block restrictions introduced by the legislation, claiming that it violates the Second Amendment. "This blanket ban violates the fundamental rights of thousands of responsible, law-abiding Florida citizens and is thus invalid under the Second and Fourteenth Amendments," the lawsuit states.
A bump stock was used by Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock, who went on a killing spree on October 1, 2017. Paddock killed 58 people and injured over 850 during an open-air concert near the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
