Introduction
Bump stock is a firearm accessory that increases the rate of fire of a semi-automatic weapon. It allows the shooter to fire more rounds in a shorter amount of time by harnessing the gun’s recoil energy to ‘bump’ the trigger against the shooter’s finger, mimicking automatic fire.
History
Bump stocks gained national attention after the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017, where the gunman used bump stocks to enhance the firepower of his weapons. This incident sparked a debate about the legality and regulation of bump stocks.
Legality
In the United States, bump stocks were originally classified as firearm parts and accessories rather than firearms themselves. This classification allowed them to bypass certain regulations and restrictions that apply to automatic weapons.
Effects
Bump stocks have been criticized for their potential to increase the lethality of mass shootings by enabling shooters to fire a large number of rounds rapidly. Proponents argue that bump stocks provide recreational shooters with a fun and novel way to experience the thrill of automatic fire without the expense of a fully automatic weapon.
Regulations
Following the Las Vegas shooting, there was a push for stricter regulations on bump stocks. In 2018, the Trump administration issued a rule banning the sale and possession of bump stocks in the U.S.
Case Study: Las Vegas Shooting
The Las Vegas shooting, where 58 people were killed and hundreds more injured, highlighted the devastating impact of bump stocks in the wrong hands. The shooter was able to unleash a barrage of bullets on a crowd of concertgoers from his hotel room using firearms equipped with bump stocks.
Statistics
- According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, over 520,000 bump stocks were sold in the United States before the ban took effect.
- A study by the Violence Policy Center found that bump stocks were used in at least 10 mass shootings in the U.S. between 2015 and 2017.
