Bump stocks classified as ‘machine guns,’ banned by Trump DoJ

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Days after signaling that he’d sign a law banning bump stocks, President Donald Trump’s Department of Just(Us) has announced that the devices will be defined as “machine guns” and banned under the 1934 and 1968 firearms acts.

The order will be placed in the Federal Register sometime this week and the ban will go into effect 90 days later. According to the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, “…current possessors of these devices will be required to destroy the devices or abandon them at an ATF office prior to the effective date of the rule.”

There’s no indication what the penalties will be for noncompliance, but it’s likely a safe bet that the criminal penalties will look something like those for violating the 1934 statute: Up to 10 years in federal prison, forfeiture of all devices or firearms in violation and penalty of up to $10,000. That will likely be the minimum. The statute calls for an additional five years in prison and fine of $100,000-$250,000 if it’s determined there was a “willful attempt to evade.”

There’s also no indication as to whether the government plans to compensate people for the property they bought and possessed legally which the government has just now de facto determined is illegal. There’s also been no statement as to whether the DoJ plans to go door-to-door to confiscate them.

Trump styled himself as “a very strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment” during his campaign. It’s turning out to be just more Trump bluster, as some of us suspected all along.

A bump stock is a device that can be attached to a sporting rifle that allows the operator to use the gun’s recoil to help speed up the action of pulling the trigger. It does not magically make a semi-automatic rifle into an automatic. This is a distinction with a profound difference and not just semantics.

With practice, the same rapid-fire action can be duplicated using a belt loop or even a nuanced grip.

Following the tragic murder of 58 people in Las Vegas in which a bump stock was allegedly used, the ATF asked for Americans to comment on possible regulations on the firearm accessories. The agency didn’t propose any specific regulations ahead of the comment period, but respondents made clear that they are opposed to any efforts that would make bump stocks illegal. Of the tens of thousands of responses, only 13 percent were in favor of regulating the devices.

Banning bump stocks will not prohibit inventive and enterprising people from creating some new device to speed up the rate of fire any more than banning murder has ended murder, banning drugs has ended drug abuse and banning bombs has ended the use of bombs.

Nor will the gun grabbers stop at bump stocks, as total disarmament is their goal, even if it is unstated and even if they deny it.

With the stroke of a pen, Trump has made thousands of gun owners into felons – gun owners who have not harmed or threatened anyone.

This move is clearly unconstitutional, violating the Article I, Section 9, Clause 3 prohibition against ex post facto laws; along with the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 9th Amendments.

The Constitution means little to Trump. He rarely mentions it, nor does he seem to make any consideration as to which of his actions may be legal or may not be. Maybe the Supreme Court will pledge a little fealty to it and strike down this nonsense. But we’re not holding our breath.

Personal Liberty

Personal Liberty News Desk