Supreme Court Tosses Federal Bump Stock Ban
High-Powered Devices Came Under Scrutiny After 2017 Las Vegas Shooting
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday struck down a federal ban on bump stocks, devices that enable a shooter to fire a semi-automatic rifle more rapidly. The court ruled 6-3 that the ban, approved by former President Donald Trump in 2019, was an unconstitutional overreach of federal authority.
Bump stocks were used in the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, in which 58 people were killed and hundreds more were injured. The gunman used a bump stock to fire hundreds of rounds in rapid succession, allowing him to inflict maximum carnage in a matter of minutes.
The National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups challenged the ban, arguing that it was an unconstitutional infringement on the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The Trump administration defended the ban, arguing that it was necessary to prevent future mass shootings.
The Supreme Court's ruling is a victory for gun rights advocates and a setback for gun control advocates. It is also a sign that the court is increasingly skeptical of gun regulations.
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