Jeffrey A. Setaro

Political & Cultural Commentary from a Constitutional Conservative.

Politics, Bump Stocks and the NRA

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Since the NRA released its statement on bump stocks and national reciprocity yesterday I’ve been hearing a lot of grumbling from gun owners and second amendment supporters. They’re not happy.

“In the aftermath of the evil and senseless attack in Las Vegas, the American people are looking for answers as to how future tragedies can be prevented. Unfortunately, the first response from some politicians has been to call for more gun control. Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks. This is a fact that has been proven time and again in countries across the world. In Las Vegas, reports indicate that certain devices were used to modify the firearms involved. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations. In an increasingly dangerous world, the NRA remains focused on our mission: strengthening Americans’ Second Amendment freedom to defend themselves, their families and their communities. To that end, on behalf of our five million members across the country, we urge Congress to pass National Right-to-Carry reciprocity, which will allow law-abiding Americans to defend themselves and their families from acts of violence.”

Let’s think this through for a second… The NRA is playing the long game here; they’re telling Congress to focus on national reciprocity and let ATF worry about regulating bump stocks.

The political reality is pretty simple — bump fire stocks are now on the endangered species list regardless of what the NRA says or does… no politician is going to defend them. The ATF is either going reclassified them as an NFA item or Congress will ban them.

The best case scenario for second amendment supporters is that the NRA can nudge the ATF into reclassifying bump stocks as an NFA item. The alternative – Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s bump stock ban bill will not only ban bump stocks, but also binary triggers… and potentially all replacement triggers depending on how the ATF interprets the law.

Second amendment supporters had all better hope the NRA’s gambit works. The collateral damage from Congressional action could be far worse!

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