Trump Getting Ready to “Write Out Bump Stocks”

In a time when many (most?) Americans are divided along party lines and stand rigidly either for or against Donald Trump, a certain amount of perspective is needed. And this may just provide that — for anyone willing to think an original thought rather than simply hewing to party lines.

At least one thing Trump is reportedly doing should please liberal Democrats and disgust Republicans: He’s still ready and willing to ban bump stocks.

According to this recent Reuters article:

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday his administration is just a few weeks away from finalizing a regulation that would ban so-called bump stocks, devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire like machine guns.

‘We’re knocking out bump stocks,’ Trump said at a White House news conference. ‘We’re in the final two or three weeks, and I’ll be able to write out bump stocks.’

As usual, this new restriction on firearms is a knee-jerk action to a controversial “gun crime.” Namely the much-doubted public record account of last year’s Las Vegas mass murder, which claims that 12 so-called bump stocks were used to kill dozens of people. There are plenty of holes in that story, but even if you buy it there’s no reason to outlaw such stocks.

Yet Trump is banning them.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in March the Justice Department was proposing a rule that would effectively ban the devices. In February, Trump had signed a memorandum directing the department to make the regulatory change.

The change required a public comment period before taking effect.

‘We are now at the final stages of the procedure,’ Trump said.

Trump devotees will certainly gloss this over, saying things like “Who needs them?” “Nobody I know ever had one,” and “Trump is a genius so he’s throwing a bone to the antis.”

We’ve all seen how well “throwing a bone” works… it’s the equivalent of lifting the tent to allow the camel’s nose to slip under.

Ah well.

As a true conservative, I am appalled at any sitting president’s willingness to institute bans on guns, ammo, accessories, etc.

You should be, too.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.