Machine gun. Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall also include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.
Changing the regulation on current bump stock is moving what has, until now, been a pretty clear line on what makes an automatic weapon. I don't see where it could be moved and be as clear. This could affect quite a bit beyond bump stocks.
5Whiskey said:That is why I am adamantly opposed to this happening through executive order or ATF administrative review. IMO it flouts the rule of law as I don't see how they can stretch the current NFA to include bump stocks the way it is written.
5Whiskey said:If the ban is going to happen, I would much rather see a narrowly tailored bill from congress. Opening this can of worms concerns me.
I am not an advocate of marijuana legalization. However, the administrative process for changing its classification seems a similar sort of administrative hyjinks. This kind of law by fiat is distasteful in itself.
It concerns me legislatively as well. If congress gets into this very directly, do you think it will be narrowly tailored and only pertain to bump stocks? I think it would include a ban on smiling while you shoot and a ban on lead bullets unless everyone at the range is wearing a hazmat suit and ventilator (or something else only tangentially related).
I don't have a workable solution.
5whiskey said:But alas, if it's going to be done let it be done according to the proper procedure prescribed by law and not by stretching legal authority to exceed it's originally intended bounds.
The other side of that argument is that a reg with a flimsy foundation is more easily repealed by later fiat, whereas properly passed legislation may be very difficult to reverse, being susceptible only to further legislation or court decision.
Here is a link to the AG's statement banning bump stocks: link
I'm not sure that the regulation will hold up under challenge as federal code defines machine guns as firearms designed to fire (or readily restored) more than one shot by a single function of the trigger. What are your thoughts?
Furthermore I just read the proposed regulation and I must say that it must have inspired great labor pangs to draft it in such a manner to seek the ultimate legal conclusion that it came to. For anyone who wants a demonstration in just how broken our government can be, read the document and see for yourself. A great many logical leaps and non-sequitor arguments were taken to reach the conclusion that the ATF can now treat bump-stocks as NFA items.