Bump stocks are to guns like fart cans are to cars. They are stupid AF, but still not something that should be banned based on one attack.
One thing that I have always adored about Free republic is the vast quantity of thoughtful and informed analysis and information about a multiplicity of subjects. I am EXTREMELY disappointed about much of 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 combat veteran, and a member of the Illinois National guard for 26 years, to include service in Iraq and the first Gulf War. 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 fed 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 75 yards, which is close to the normal engagement ranges for truly effective full auto fire from shoulder mounted weapons. 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.
The battle has been joined. The anti-gun hysterics are in full cry. They will never 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.
If they do this, then they should compromise by repealing the 1986 Hughes Act which caused the prices of full auto weapons to skyrocket. 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.
“Bump stocks are to guns like fart cans are to cars”
I’m not a gun expert but shouldn’t it be easy to make an electrically powered gadget that would squeeze a trigger at whatever rate the shooter desired? Why bother with a touchy, bulky bump stock?
Either you support the 2nd Ammendment or you’re a gun grabber. You may believe only certain guns that have a stupid bump stock should be grabbed, but you’re still a gun grabber.
Do not let Congress and the ATF rewrite the definition of a machinegun to include bump stocks in the (unconstitutional) NFA. I guarantee you, once they do it, other items will follow - like magazines over 10 rounds or detachable magazine altogether. They will argue that those items allow the gun to shoot faster than should be allowed under common sense gun laws. And since they did it with bump stocks, legal precedence allows them to add magazines, drums, pistol grips, muzzle devices, bipods, etc. to the NFA registry.
And for those who don’t shoot much, you don’t need a bump fire stock to fire quickly. You can bump fire with a rubber band or even with an open palm with practice. A ban won’t do anything.
I kind of feel the same way. I just don’t want to give these commies an inch without getting something in return. Plus, we don’t know the whole Vegas story either.
Don’t worry. Anyone with a stock cradle, a good piece of walnut, a big jar of inlaying black and the right tools, can install a spring between the stock and the frame that will do the job, regardless of what they do or don’t ban in Congress. What would anyone need with a bump stock who isn’t looking to start a personal war, though.