The National Rifle Association has requested additional regulations on bump stocks to be enforced, following the massive shooting in Las Vegas last Sunday. The Association asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to reassess the legality of these devices.
NRA officials made the following statement: “Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the [ATF] to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law,” CNBC reports.
The Association’s support comes as a surprise, as they have always been proponents of gun use, but it will potentially enable GOP lawmakers to pass a bill which regulates bump stock devices.
The White House suggested that the president may be willing to discuss possible changes to laws regarding bump stocks. However, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also pointed out that President Donald Trump is a fervent supporter of people’s right to carry arms and that it might be too early to talk about a possible discussion on the issue.
House Speaker Paul Ryan earlier said that the matter of making changes to bump stock laws should be looked into.
It could be argued that the NRA’s support may be just a strategic move to prevent Congress from taking on the issue. Putting any proposal relating gun control before Congress presents a serious risk for the Association, as well as for other gun lobbyists, by drawing public attention to various gun laws. The regulations the NRA is endorsing can provide a simple solution to the problem while at the same time allowing it to reject other similar gun control measures.
The NRA also urged Congress to pass legislation under which it would be legal for owners with a concealed carry permit to carry weapons nationally.
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