Supreme Court Strikes Down Bump Stock Ban
Landmark Ruling Ends Trump-Era Prohibition
Impactful Storytelling:
In a landmark ruling that has sent shockwaves through the gun debate, the Supreme Court on Friday, June 14, 2024, struck down a federal ban on bump stocks. Bump stocks, which enable semiautomatic rifles to fire at a much faster rate, were prohibited under a Trump-era regulation barring ownership of these devices.
The 6-3 decision is a victory for gun rights advocates who have argued that the ban was unconstitutional and that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) had overstepped its authority in implementing it. The ruling has sparked immediate concern among gun control advocates, who warn that it could lead to an increase in mass shootings.
The case stemmed from a 2018 ATF regulation that classified bump stocks as machine guns, effectively prohibiting their sale and possession. This definition was challenged in court, with gun rights groups arguing that it violated the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
The Supreme Court ruling is a significant setback to efforts to curb gun violence in the United States. Bump stocks have been used in several mass shootings, including the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, where a gunman used a bump stock to kill 60 people and injure hundreds more.
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