NRA, Congress And White House Gang Up On Bump Stocks

The odds are heavily against this Republican-controlled Congress taking action on guns in the wake of Sunday night’s massacre in Las Vegas. Dianne Feinstein of California, who introduced a bill this week to ban the devices. Feinstein’s bill has 24 co-sponsors, all Democrats. “Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, said this week”. For Democrats, the challenge will be bridging the gap between that kind of non-committal response and a firm “yes” vote. “But we really need to stop and think: Is this going to have the impact that we want?”

He told reporters Tuesday that it is “completely inappropriate to politicize an event like this” and declined to answer further questions on the subject.

That’s an important caveat.

Congressional leaders took a similar stance this week.

U.S. lawmakers need to examine “bump stock” gun accessories, devices that enable some guns to be turned into rapid-fire weapons, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Thursday, opening the door to possible debate on gun control by the Republican-controlled Congress.

Though Cornyn didn’t speak to Feinstein’s measure, it’s already gaining some traction with some Republicans.

“My reaction was that this was all created to kill or injure as many people as possible as quickly as possible, and that’s the reason why automatic weapons are generally not available”, Cornyn said Thursday. “Together, we can find common ground that respects and supports the 2nd Amendment while keeping guns out of the hands of people who should not have them – criminals and the dangerously mentally ill”. “It could happen to any one of us”.

The government did approve the sale of bump stocks in 2010. John Thune, R-South Dakota, told reporters when asked about the bump stocks and semi-automatic weapons being illegally converted to fire fully automatic. It can reportedly allow a gun to shoot hundred of rounds per minute. Twelve rifles found in Paddock’s hotel room had bump stocks, authorities said.

“I think all of us assumed that when we heard the audio that it was a fully automatic weapon”.

Georgia Sen. David Perdue, a conservative, said he’d consider the bill after learning that bump stocks are legal. Susan Collins, R-Maine, adding that many of her colleagues have done the same.

The device can be slid onto the back-end of a gun and uses the power of the recoil to fire ammo more rapidly. Republicans also control the Senate and the White House.

President Donald Trump has not talked about bump stocks specifically, but did indicate this week that he’s open to considering additional gun regulations. “I just thank God”.

And whenever the NRA shows the least bit of give on an issue, you can bet that the Gun Owners of America will rush to sweep up the newly available gun-nut market share.

Ten Democratic senators, including McCaskill, face reelection bids in mostly rural states that Trump easily won in the 2016 election. It’s not the road Republicans, or any gun rights-supporting American or politicians should go down.