Tragic: Every Single Bump Stock In Nation Suddenly Lost In Boating Accident

Babylon Bee writers must lurk on FR.

We’re gonna need a bigger boat.

Your argument that a bump stock is COMPLETELY worthless in a tactical situation does not comport with my personal experience.

Under existing law, bump fire stock equipped rifles are NOT machine guns because each and every shot, utilizing a bump-fire stock in the slide fire mode requires a separate activation of the trigger. Period. There are NO modifications to the fire control group. Neither the disconnector, the hammer, the selector lever, lower receiver, or the trigger is altered in ANY way. An automatic sear is not added.

One thing that I really like about Free Republic is the amazing incisiveness and the vast quantity of thoughtful and informed analysis and information about a multiplicity of subjects. However, I am EXTREMELY disappointed about much of what has been said of the the bumpfire stock controversy. Much of it sounds has though it was promulgated by the ignorant gun grabbing left.

I am a 2 tour Vietnam infantry and armor combat veteran, and a member of the Illinois National guard for 26 years. I served in a NG Military police battalion has a platoon sergeant and an operations sergeant. I was a certified Illinois State Police Firearms and Defensive tactics instructor, and a member of Special Reaction and SWAT teams. I have fired hundreds of thousands of rounds through automatic weapons of all types, belt and magazine fed, tripod and shoulder mounted, ranging from .45 caliber M-3 sub machine guns up to M2A1 40 mm twin anti-aircraft guns mounted on an M-42 self propelled anti-aircraft gun.
I am retired and spend one day a month on the rifle range shooting my AR-15 rifles. When this slide fire device was first introduced, the low cost and novelty intrigued me and I purchased one. It was a bit awkward to use at first, but in one afternoon, after a bit of practice I was able to get 90% of any length burst on a man sized target at 70 yards, which is close to the normal engagement ranges for truly effective full auto fire from shoulder mounted assault rifles. It is not as useful has a true selective fire assault rifle since it requires two hands to employ, but it DOES have some measure of limited tactical utility for anyone who practices with it. I never really considered this item to be a true tactical instrument, but I did appreciate the ingenuity and thought that went into turning “bump fire’ into almost as accurate a technique has I could use with a true select fire assault rifle. It was even more accurate when firing from the prone position while using a bi-pod. I kept every round from each burst on a man sized target silhouette at a range of 100 meters.

Experts who have decried the effectiveness of full auto fire from assault rifles and other shoulder fired weapons are largely correct. I was constantly yelling at my squad to use the “auto” location for the selector switch sparingly. Semi-auto fire is usually most desired and superior, and includes the advantages of duration of sustained fire to prevent barrel overheating and enhances ammo expenditure and accuracy. Auto fire from an assault rifle has the following tactical utility, in the final and close in (100 meters or less) stages of an assault, to gain initial fire superiority, to break contact, particularly has a counter ambush technique, when firing along final protective lines when a perimeter is in danger of being overrun, and to support by fire the maneuver tactics of another element. Leaders are responsible to control the fire of their subordinates to maintain fire discipline, but in those roles that I have outlined, full auto fire is very useful indeed, even if it is simulated auto fire delivered from a bumpstock.

The battle has been joined. The anti-gun hysterics are in full cry. They will never be satisfied until they achieve near total firearm confiscation. The genie is out of the bottle. You cannot stop psychopaths employing bump fire methods unless you can repeal the laws of Newtonian physics. I realize that some sort of regulation will ensue in the wake of this horrific atrocity. But I don’t like it one damn bit. BTW, you can effectively bump fire with a thick rubber band wrapped around the magazine well and on the trigger on an AR-15, while firing thru the sights from the shoulder.
If they do enact this ban, then any so called “compromise” should include repealing the 1986 Hughes Act which caused the prices of full auto weapons to skyrocket by making it impossible to register newly manufactured NFA firearms. There is NO REASON for a legally transferable M-16 to cost over 50,000 dollars. You can be assured that any such owner will be thoroughly vetted by the background check that would be required to purchase one. But none of that matters to gun grabbers anyway.

I guess everyone will now have to turn in their rubber bands, belt loops, and thumbs since all three can be used to form a type of bump stock action.

America the thumbless. Whodathunkit.

Think about it. Now that you and thousands of others are a Felon for owning one, what is the point of deference for having other federally unlicensed illegal weapons, like SBRs?

I disagree.

So do I. Unfortunately, in order to maintain my membership at a shooting range locally, I have to maintain an NRA membership.

Think about it. Now that you and thousands of others are a Felon for owning one, what is the point of deference for having other federally unlicensed illegal weapons, like SBRs?

Like I said; everyone with a thumb and/or rubber bands can improvise a bump stock so every single semi-auto rifle can theoretically be a bump stock equipped rifle. Pretty sure that number is in the tens of millions who are now breaking the law. Well, probably not, but it could be argued that way. A judge would probably say they are talking about the plastic, specifically made, bump stocks.

I never bothered with the bump stocks. Everyone I spoke with says they are a novelty item so I spent my money on more ammo instead. ;) Some tried them but couldn't get them to work and others said they got them to work but it was inconsistently and without much accuracy. A novelty item.

Aren’t all laws in the US based on voluntary compliance? The penalties only apply when they’re broken.

Yep and don’t get caught disobeying them. No law prevents anyone from doing anything against it, they’re just words on paper. Go ask a battered woman who had a restraining order how that piece of paper prevented more abuse from her ex.