Slide-Fire And Bump Fire Stocks Are Likely Doomed To The Dust-Bin Of History
BY Herschel Smith
7 years, 1 month ago
I told you so.
NBC:
Days after a dozen modified rapid-fire guns were found in the Las Vegas gunman’s hotel room, Democrats introduced a bill on Wednesday to ban such changes to weapons — and dared Republicans to ignore it.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said her legislation would bar the sale, manufacture and possession of so-called bump stocks and other devices — all currently legal — that drastically increase a firearm’s rate of fire.
“The only reason to modify a gun like this is to kill as many people as possible in as short of a time as possible,” Feinstein said …
This is being co-sponsored with Bob Casey. The GOP is unwilling to take that dare.
“I own a lot of guns, and as a hunter and sportsman, I think that’s our right as Americans, but I don’t understand the use of this bump stock,” Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said, adding, “It seems like it’s an obvious area we ought to explore and see if it’s something Congress needs to act on.”
Mr. Cornyn said the continuing legality of the conversion kits was “a legitimate question,” and told reporters he had asked Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the Judiciary Committee chairman, to convene a hearing on that issue and any others that arise out of the Las Vegas investigation.
Other Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and Marco Rubio of Florida, said they would be open to considering legislation on bump stocks.
You could have seen this coming with Cornyn, who tried to push mandatory mental health checks by government-approved doctors as a prerequisite for gun ownership. I don’t think anyone is going to be surprised at the presence of Lindsey Graham, Orrin Hatch or Marco Rubio on this list either.
As a long time gun owner, I have never seen fit to purchase a slide-fire stock. In fact, to break the narrative just a bit, uninterrupted fire from the shooter’s weapons without allowing the gun to cool in between bursts would have caused the barrel to droop and eventually the gas block to explode into pieces. I see no purpose for his having used such a device to begin with.
But if you want this device, get it now. Chances are that it will be illegal in the not too distant future.
On October 5, 2017 at 12:38 am, George said:
The author of this YouTube video that I have linked below presents a very good argument that the long, sustained bursts of automatic rifle fire were TOO long to have been done with an bump-fire stock equipped rifle. And he goes on to say that the sound signatures of the weapon(s?) are different, indicating that there was more than one gun in use at the scene of this crime. After listening, I have to admit that it certainly sounds like this might be the case. Also, many former (and active duty) military viewers of this video have voiced their agreement. Take a look at the video if you have time and are so inclined:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG2oQ65zi-Q
On October 5, 2017 at 1:19 am, Joshua Smith said:
The shooter definitely had at least one actual fully automatic weapon.
On October 5, 2017 at 5:03 am, DAN III said:
“….shall not be infringed.”
So much for that. Dead, long ago.
On October 5, 2017 at 7:47 am, Fred said:
“I own a lot of guns, and as a hunter and sportsman…” – Cornyn
– Don’t care. The 2A is about killing tyrants not sports.
“…and any others that arise”
-This is the part to worry about.
On October 5, 2017 at 10:31 am, James said:
You don’t need a bumpstock to do “bump FIRE,” or “Tira de rebote.” YOU can make your own mechanism with correct Combination of rubberbands or bungie cords; or just hook the trigger finger through a belt loop, and apply appropriate pressure. Accuracy sucks; and risk of expensive broken parts is greater because most semi autos weren’t engineered to take the pressures of full auto.
On October 5, 2017 at 10:39 am, Duke_Digger said:
My congress critter (Steve Russell R-OK) said in an interview last night on Fox ” I have no problem with restricting slide fire stocks, and I have an 07FFL (manuf.) and I’m a vet with 2 combat tours and I own a gun business”
OK so if it’s not your ox being gored then FU, huh Steve?
How long before your peers get around to outright banning your operation?
What about that Steve?
Been lighting up his e-mail this morning!
On October 5, 2017 at 10:49 am, Archer said:
… [Feinstein’s] legislation would bar the sale, manufacture and possession of so-called bump stocks and other devices — all currently legal — that drastically increase a firearm’s rate of fire. [emphasis added]
That’s not the way I heard it (and take this with a grain of salt, as I haven’t been able to locate the actual bill yet).
What I’ve heard is that it includes ANY mechanism that increases the rate of fire from a semi-automatic firearm.
A semi-auto’s rate of fire is limited mostly by the speed at which the action cycles. Suppose you swap out the BCG from your AR for a lighter, “skeletonized” version. The lighter BCG will cycle a bit faster, which will slightly increase your rate of fire. Same with a stiffer buffer spring.
Not limited to AR-patterns, either. A stiffer recoil spring in a Glock will help it cycle faster, too.
Anything that gets your gun back into battery more quickly has the potential to increase the firing rate. So any device or part that does this, depending on exactly how the bill is worded, could potentially be banned.
(And ultimately, it’ll come down to BATFE’s FTB determinations. Y’know, the same FTB that “determined” that a shoelace is an automatic weapon, and that an arm-brace for an AR pistol was actually a shoulder stock … until it wasn’t. We DO NOT WANT to give the FTB any more power than it has already.)
On October 5, 2017 at 11:04 am, JoeFour said:
Off-topic, but germane to Vegas shooting…comment I stumbled across, copied, and promptly forgot what site I saw it on …
“This is something so important and nobody has said one word
about it, the glass on these Las Vegas high rises all have sensors that detect
pressure and immediately identify the room number in which the window sensors
have been activated! I had a friend that stayed at the Mandalay and had a party
in his room, some drunk idiot accidentally knocked a small person up against
the window but not even hard, within two minutes they had security banging on
the door asking if everything was OK and to open the door or they were coming
in. My friend opened the door to see about five security guards and asked what
the problem was, the head officer said that something had impacted the sensors
on the window and to allow them to check the window, they came in and actually
showed my buddy the small sensors within the window. These are put there for
insurance purposes so that somebody can’t break the window and jump out to
commit suicide after losing their life savings and having the family members
file a major wrongful death lawsuit ….”
On October 5, 2017 at 11:10 am, JoeFour said:
Here’s a link to a thought provoking essay on the Vegas shooting by Paul Craig Roberts:
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/10/04/las-vegas-shooting/
On October 5, 2017 at 11:38 am, Archer said:
Update: Miguel and J.Kb over at “Gun Free Zone” got a copy.
“… ANY part, combination of parts, [etc.] that is designed OR FUNCTIONS to accelerate the rate of fire…”
No verbiage about “dramatically” increasing the rate of fire, nor “significantly”, nor “substantially”. If your lighter BCG and stiffer buffer spring could result in you being able to shoot 101 rounds per minute instead of 100, consider it illegal to buy, sell, or transfer, should this bill pass.
And I wouldn’t put it past BATFE’s FTB to “determine” that a 30-, 40-, 60-, or 100-round magazine “functions to accelerate the rate of fire” over a 10-round magazine by reducing the amount of time you spend changing magazines.
The bill can be found here.
On October 5, 2017 at 4:13 pm, Pat Hines said:
I have one, acquired at least 18 months ago, so far unused.
They’re wildly inaccurate, truth be told, but with a large target like the concert venue, that wasn’t relevant.
Both a binary trigger or a lightning link are more accurate. The lightning link requires a semi-auto AR-15 bolt carrier, won’t work with an M-16 bolt carrier.
The NRA appears to have bought off on restricting slide fire stocks.
On October 5, 2017 at 5:13 pm, Paul P said:
300+ million people, 350+ million firearms , unknown total number of bump stocks or mechanisms to simulate full auto or burst ( including home made) . One guy uses it in a criminal act and now there needs to be a law?
I do find it interesting that people that “own guns” that support this will be the first to cry foul when they decide their deer rifle is to powerful and considered a sniper rifle.
This will be just another chunk taken out of a God given right . They always say we just need this one more law …..until the next one. And over 20k laws later , here we are .
“First they came for…..” I will let you fill in the blanks .
Btw , having shot bump stocks for fun , a person would rather me use that than semi auto or even bolt .
On October 5, 2017 at 6:08 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@Pat,
NRA. Source pls.
On October 5, 2017 at 6:22 pm, Fred said:
“National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law…should be subject to additional regulations.”
https://home.nra.org/joint-statement
On October 5, 2017 at 7:58 pm, Longbow said:
The parrot speaks, “Hunters and Sportsmen… Waaaaach… Hunters and Sportsmen… waaaach… whoohoo! Waaaaach… Hunters and Sportsmen!”
Any politician who begins ANY statement with such nonsense should be run out of town on a rail, wearing his tar and feathers proudly.