A bump stock effectively turns a semi-automatic or single-fire weapon into a rapid-fire weapon. It does that by making a gun bump against the shooter's shoulder and trigger finger.
For a decade, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said bump stocks were not machine guns. However, the ATF reversed course and instituted a ban after the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, in which the gunman fitted his semi-automatic rifles with bump stocks, allowing him to rapidly fire on a concert from his Mandalay Bay hotel room, killing 60 people.
The New Civil Liberties Alliance challenged the bump stock ban, which was approved under the Trump administration. The group, which was suing on behalf of Texas gun store owner Michael Cargill, claimed the ATF overstepped its authority by banning the devices.Judge says Biden's ban of 'gun show loophole' invalid in 4 states Justin Boggs 11:19 AM, Jun 13, 2024 "I stood and fought," Cargill said immediately after the ruling.
While the case didn't directly deal with Second Amendment rights, gun rights activists still see this decision as a win. “The Supreme Court has properly restrained executive branch agencies to their role of enforcing, and not making, the law. This decision will be pivotal to NRA’s future challenges of ATF regulations," said Randy Kozuch, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action."This is terrifying for so many communities impacted by gun violence, including Nevada’s First District and the victims of the 1 October shooting," she stated.