Thing is, BATFE can’t deal with it. They’ve ruled themselves into a corner which they can’t get out of without legislation.
They ruled bump stocks are legal, NOT machinegun parts in any way. So, there are a LOT of them out there now - legally.
If ruling is reversed, they have to contend they’re machinegun parts (under some ruling/law or other), and now every single bump stock is illegal under 922(o) - there is no way to “amnesty” them (like retroactively declaring Street Sweepers as Destructive Devices - file your paperwork, waive the tax, done) because law flatly forbids any made after 1986.
I don’t see how the BATFE can “deal with this by regulation”. Either bump-stock semi-autos are legal, or they’re _seriously_ illegal machineguns. I mean really seriously illegal in ways the gov’t can’t back away from. This would go straight to the Supreme Court, get 922(o) overturned (yay!), and suddenly the whole “bump stock” controversy (originating from a single incident) turns into a flood of new cheap machineguns (via NFA Form 4 + $200 tax). While _I_ like that result, the sociopolitical fallout would be enormous.
I agree that they painted themselves into a corner. They have overruled themselves on several occasions - granted never of this magnitude or gravity. The NRA is not going to fight HR3999 very hard if at all - at least that is the reports. Semi-auto’s are an endangered species.
One person is suggesting that they make a ruling similar to the Sig Stock one that defines the scope so that you can use it to such a narrow field that it is not legal to use in any manner.
I am for NOT doing anything and have told my Congresscritters and the NRA exactly that. The shooter’s acts were already illegal and banning bump stocks will not stop a murderous rampage. But, the foolish human need to “do something” will unfortunately prevail.