Nevada Democrats are once again pushing to ban bump stocks nationwide, even though these devices have been used in only one major crime—the tragic 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
Senator Jacky Rosen and Representative Dina Titus recently reintroduced the Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act, aiming to outlaw bump stocks and similar firearm accessories across the country
A bump stock is a device that replaces a rifle’s standard stock, allowing the shooter to use the gun’s recoil to “bump” the trigger rapidly. This simulates automatic fire but still requires the trigger to reset between shots.
In 2017, a gunman used rifles equipped with bump stocks to fire over 1,000 rounds in about 11 minutes at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, killing 60 people and injuring hundreds more .
Despite the horror of that night, bump stocks have not been linked to any other major crimes. Law enforcement and gun policy experts agree that bump stocks are rarely used in criminal activity.
They’re bulky, reduce accuracy, and are impractical for most criminals. The Las Vegas shooting remains the only widely cited instance where bump stocks were definitively used to commit a violent crime on such a scale.
In 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) banned bump stocks, classifying them as machine guns. However, in June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down this ban, ruling that the ATF exceeded its authority.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock still requires the shooter to release and reengage the trigger for each shot, distinguishing it from a machine gun .
Nevada already banned bump stocks at the state level in 2019 . Now, state lawmakers are pushing for a federal ban, even though the devices are rarely used in crimes.
Critics argue that this legislation is more about political optics than public safety. They see it as a “feel-good” measure that doesn’t address the root causes of gun violence.
Opponents of the federal ban argue that focusing on bump stocks diverts attention and resources from more pressing issues. They believe that efforts should be directed toward enforcing existing laws and addressing factors that contribute to gun violence, such as mental health and community programs.
By targeting a device involved in a single incident, lawmakers may be missing the bigger picture.
While the 2017 Las Vegas shooting was a devastating event, the push to ban bump stocks at the federal level may not be the most effective way to prevent future tragedies.
With no significant evidence linking bump stocks to other violent crimes, critics argue that this legislation is more about political posturing than practical solutions.
They advocate for a focus on measures that address the broader issues contributing to gun violence, rather than targeting a device rarely used in criminal activity.
I couldn’t agree more.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
