Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced legislation Wednesday to ban bump stocks. (Photo: AP)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Wednesday introduced the Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act, a bill that would spell the end of bump stocks and any other accessory that increases the rate of fire of semiautomatic firearms.
“We’ve now witnessed the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, which saw nearly 600 people killed or injured. An American concert venue has now become a battlefield. We must stop this now,” Feinstein said in a statement.
“Automatic weapons have been illegal for more than 30 years, but there’s a loophole in the law that can be exploited to allow killers to fire at rates of between 400 and 800 rounds-per-minute,” she continued.
“The only reason to fire so many rounds so fast is to kill large numbers of people. No one should be able to easily and cheaply modify legal weapons into what are essentially machine guns,” Feinstein concluded.
First off, automatic weapons made prior to 1986 aren’t illegal, they’re just highly restricted under the NFA. Second, lawmakers can ban everything until the cows come home and a determined killer with a million-dollar bankroll and no criminal history, like the alleged shooter in Las Vegas, will procure a means to take innocent lives.
Yet, Feinstein and whole host of cosponsors including Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), among many others believe that banning the sale, transfer, importation, manufacture or possession of bump stocks, trigger cranks and other accessories will somehow make a difference.
Feinstein didn’t specify what would happen to the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of bump stocks and trigger cranks in circulation.
SEE ALSO: The Call to Ban Bump Stocks Has Begun
U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced a companion bill in the House.
The real question is whether Republicans will sign on to the Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act. Already, we’re seeing signs that many might cave to the pressure, even amongst GOP leadership.
“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,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the Senate Majority Whip, told the NY Times.
“It seems like it’s an obvious area we ought to explore and see if it’s something Congress needs to act on,” he added.
GOP senators Lindsey Graham (SC), Orrin Hatch (UT) and Marco Rubio (FL) have also expressed interest in banning bump stocks.
“We certainly want to learn more details on what occurred in Las Vegas,” Mr. Rubio said, “and if there are vulnerabilities in federal law that we should be addressing to prevent such attacks in the future, we would always be open to that.”
On the House side, Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) was emphatic in his support for the bump stock ban.
“I think they should be banned,” Mr. Flores told the newspaper The Hill. “There’s no reason for a typical gun owner to own anything that converts a semiautomatic to something that behaves like an automatic.”
Rep. Mark Meadows who is the head of the conservative Freedom Caucus told reporters that he, too, would be open to reviewing the bill.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) also chimed in on the matter, saying it’s something that lawmakers should examine.
“Look, I didn’t even know what they were until this week, and I’m an avid sportsman,” said Ryan on Thursday.
“So, I think we’re quickly coming up to speed with what this is,” he continued. “Fully automatic weapons have been banned for a long time. Apparently this allows you to take a semiautomatic and turn it into a fully automatic so clearly that’s something we need to look into.”
This, my friends, is how it begins. If they can ban bump stocks and trigger cranks, what’s next? Pistol grips and muzzle brakes? Semiautomatic long guns and 10-plus round magazines? Autoloading pistols?
What’s crazy about all this is the speed at which things are happening. We’re only four days removed from the shooting. We don’t really even know what happened yet! The investigation is still ongoing, and yet our lawmakers are already in overdrive trying to kill suppressor deregulation and ban bump stocks.
The art of negotiation- never give anything without getting something in return. While I am a card carrying member of the NRA and committed to protecting Second Amendment rights, I would gladly give up bump stocks in exchange for national reciprocity or other meaningful pro gun initiative. This could be a win-win……
This country better wake up and realize that the 2nd amendment was put into place by our four father’s for a reason a tyrannical government. If we continue to back down the government will have control over everything and big brother will continue to control everything we eat, drink, smoke, and enjoy for entertainment including our guns and accessories.
We cannot stand ideally by and ignore what the anti gunners want to propose and take away our rights. These anti gun politicians better wake up and know we are not going to go down without a fight. I personally own a gun store and I hear it all the time and get questions all the time about would they really do something like that or is it just talk. Let me tell you this is where it all starts with just the small accessories that one could live without but it will progress from there and they will come up with other things from the bump stocks and move onto the next thing until you have no rights left. We need the broken healthcare system fixed in order to get these sick people out there help. We have crap mental healthcare Insurance why??? We are the United States we should have the best possible care for mentally ill children and adults. We didn’t have these shootings back 30 years ago so what has changed. Well look how many children have only one parent to raise them, Look how many families don’t go to church anymore, look at the drug problem this country is facing today the violent video games. What about all the parents that had kids and took drugs during their pregnancy and then we wonder why these kids are showing up with signs of mental illness. We need to face facts that things have changed a whole lot in the past 30 years. Maybe things would not be as bad if these judges would get tougher on some of these cases and sentence them to much longer time.
Stand up and be a responsible parent and do the right thing, teach these kids about being a responsible gun owner and teach them about safety and the proper use of a firearm and keeping them locked up in a safe place until they are old enough.
Please help fight this and get a hold of all of your political representatives and tell them to vote this down and preserve your 2nd amendment rights and to keep the constitution intact the way it was written by our four fathers.
This has been ongoing since the issue of augmented firepower existed. Bump stocks area perifiol issue. They via mechanics increase the RPM of volume fire. Unfortunately they are not also truely combative with Infantry tactical. There exist better tactics. Go for the gold and avoid thes crowd pleasers.
I can’t say how disappointed I am in the NRA for their call to review bumpfire stocks.
Just a cave-in to the Left.
Looks like I won’t be renewing my membership, and Hillary didn’t have to lift a finger.
This is a slippery slope in more onerous anti – gun laws. Who decides the rate of fire in a semi auto rifle or pistol, the government? Leave the bumpstocks alone & any other devices. They were more of a novelty item. Don’t give an inch or they will confiscate all firearms in the end.
You really dont need a bump stock to fire fast. You can use your finger like a bump stock. Its not easy to learn how, ban the dam things. I hate to say it its not going to stop shootings. Theres over 300 million guns in america. If the FBI did there job the school shooting might have not happened. It was reported to the FBI about a comment the shooter said on FaceBook. Why isnt Feinstein talking about that.
Before the blood was dry, the left wing was using Vegas tragedy to solicit donations. Their motto is never let any tragedy go to waste. Freaking vultures
Make not of every Republican that supports this so we can vote them out of office. We have come to expect Dumbacrats to support this sort of thing but not Repugs.
she is also on video saying that no gun law would have stooped this guy from doing what he wanted to do. she is also on video saying if she could she would take all the guns away from everyone she just didn’t have the votes to get it done. now you tell me what the anti-gunners true end game is? doing away with the 2nd Amendment thats what.
The move by Feinstein has nothing to do with Bump Stock per se. What Feinstein is after is the second amendment. She knows that there is no way to over turn the 2A at the moment so the Dems will be happy with a small win, a whittling away of the 2A. If you look across the country those states controlled by the Dems have thrown up barrier after barrier in an attempt to dilute or even to negate the rights afforded to US citizens under the 2A. I keep wondering how this can be legal. How is it that as an American Citizen that the 2A only works in non Dem controlled parts of the US. Isn’t the 2A for all citizens at all times? Those GOP Rhinos who join Feinstein should risk being voted out in the next election. Unfortunately, many of them are not running this time around.
What a bunch of fools . 400 to 800 rounds per minute ? To many arnold and Sylvester movies. If these dumb a– people want to bitch about guns get the facts straight. If that ass—- in Vegas was laying down that kind of firepower there would be many many more casualties. Ignorant people shouldn’t talk about what they don’t understand .
Remember well the names of the traitors who caved to the insane “logic” of the gun grabbers. This is just their first step toward confiscation, and they openly admit as much, and the traitors happily play along, all who have campaigned as big “friends to gun owners” but now are revealing themselves to be enemies of the 2nd – and of us. Get ready to fight, fellow patriots. Molon labe.
Write, call or visit your elected officials. If they think they might lose a vote they might change their mind. Votes are all that matter to them. We have become accustomed to being lied to during campaigns and just accepting what happens after the election. If the politicians are held accountable for their actions things might change. Who keeps electing these people? And what does that say about the electorate in this country.
When is the time…..that your old ass will finally croak? Damn how old is this horrid creature from the abyss now? Is hell full? Is that why this bitter old hag is still alive? Secondly….how could any guy vote for one of those pansie ass little weasels next to her and call themselves a man? Oh crap…am I insulting the animal by that name?
First off, I always find it to be highly suspicious when these tragedies happen either when the commiecrats are in a position to pass anti-gun legislation, or when pro-gun legislation is (to their so-called minds) in “danger” of getting passed. All of a sudden, some nutjob cuts loose and gives the leftists the impetus they need to push their agenda, and more of our rights get cut away. Seems that most of the criminals who do this thing turn out to be registered Demoncrats, from what I understand. Like I said, suspicious.
Second, how do they think they are going to enforce this? With improvements in 3D printing, you can easily print things like AR lower receivers that will actually stand up to more than a few shots, high-cap magazines, and even a 4-piece bump fire stock that will fit on the average 200mm x 200mm x 200mm printer build platform. So what next? Mandatory registration of home printers? Banning building your own printer? Unannounced raids by the Bureau for the Absolute Termination of Freedom on the homes of anyone suspected of owning a 3D printer? I can almost guarantee a ban on bump stocks will only increase their popularity and desirability, and maybe even encourage MORE criminals to want to use them than if it was simply let go. But, the Soros-backed left wing will never let go until all American citizens have become de facto subjects, as good little disarmed sheeple.
OUR Second AMENDMENT
What part of infringed do they not understand ???
synonyms: restrict, limit, curb, check, encroach on;
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
in·fringed
past tense: actively break the terms of (a law, agreement, etc.).
synonyms: contravene, violate, transgress, break, breach;
act so as to limit or undermine (something); encroach on.
“his legal rights were being infringed”
synonyms: restrict, limit, curb, check, encroach on;
We now all wonder how far this new-found support for additional restrictions will lead. We that view this web site all know the liberal pigs will not stop for a moment longer than they did here to push for more and more restrictions. The bodies in LV were not even cold before Hillary and Schumer began calling for restrictions. Like the vultures they are, they perch on their silver pulpit waiting for another atrocity by some wacko none can predict. How many hunters and individuals are there that have firearms for self and home protection, yet how many of these same fools have given one thin dime to any organization that would support their ownership of guns? I blame these idiots as much, more, than all of the Diane Feinstein emulators in Congress. The liberals wish to take away an ability for each of us to defend ourselves and family in an America that is not a shadow of what it was 50 years ago. Between a terrorist threat, foreign intrigue, the crazed liberals, we cannot roll over and allow this to happen, for I’d prefer to be dead than living under the heel of an oppressive government or under a bed as with these liberal filthy scum.
If It get passed all slide fire stocks are sold out online and in stores how would this stop them from using them feinstine should be put In a old age home if she thinks this is gonna get passed the NRA told her to let the ATF I review it again and he bill poor she said bump fire not triggers can’t shot with out them andbother accessories? What scope handguard bolts sights
Congratulations stupid old criptkeaper bitch greedy un amarican hands you lost all the Republicans that would have sign it
They said bump fire not a accessories grab and this close to 2018 democratic elections in Republicans states dahhhhhh.
“Automatic weapons have been illegal for more than 30 years, but there’s a loophole in the law that can be exploited to allow killers to fire at rates of between 400 and 800 rounds-per-minute,” she continued. This statement is COMPLETELY FALSE
This stupid fucking woman senator knows nothing about firearms but champions to ban them. Automatic firearms can be legally owned but are regulated by the National Firearms Act by the BATF. Stupid dumbocrap people like that dumb old woman should not be able to hold office
I completely agree with you.
Grow up guys, the government doesn’t want to take your guns. They do not fear an armed populace because they’ve already taken all of your “freedoms” that count and the “armed populace” has done nothing. You still have meaningless freedoms, Coke or Pepsi, Burger King or McDonald’s, Walmart or Target, Nascar or rasslin’. Don’t give that shit about Australia either, they have everything that we have, regardless of the NRA’s fear-mongering lies to the contrary. It was only a matter of time until some yahoo did something like this, so enjoy your reward.
A lot of gun owners don’t like bump fire type stocks, to each his/her own choices. To support a ban of them is a different issue. Lets say they the Gov bans them. The well informed among us know you don’t need a special stock to bump fire. All you need is a semi automatic firearm and pocket or belt loop to anchor the technique. So banning the stocks does not stop the method of increasing the rate of fire. Since the Gov banned those stocks to stop it, the technique is a “Loophole” and since they can’t cut your fingers off they will push for a total ban and confication of the device that can be fired so fast! They may loose on confiscation but the “compromise” may be Fed Registration, no sales to civilians and universal background checks. You can also bet the bank tere will never be a Sunset Provision in another gun control Law.
Focus on the basic principles here: A item is currently legal (after a complete review by BATFE years ago) and now the gun grabbers and probably some RINOs want to Ban or Restrict it. Now you can substitute any firearm/item as the target of these anti gun idiots and you will clearly see what is at stake. This is really no different then the Libs/Dems trying to split hunters from personal defense or modern sporting rifle users.
History shows the steps used to disarm a Countries population. This is one of them!
Well said!