The ATF and the DOJ are currently deciding whether "bump- stocks" and "similar devices" fall under the definition of "machine guns." Regardless of what your thoughts are on "bump-stocks," I believe that this is an issue that should concern us all for at least two reasons. One, being the inclusion of "triggers and other devices" that could potentially be argued increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm. The second being the ever present issue of the "slippery slope". Depending on how broad a definition the ATF adopts this could at some point even be interpreted to include a wide variety of things such as reduced weight/travel target triggers. We should petition the ATF to maintain the definition of machinegun and semi-auto as they presently are; a machinegun fires multiple shots with a singe pull of the trigger and a semi-auto fires one shot for each pull of the trigger. The comment period ends on January 25, 2018. A link to the web page is included at the bottom.
AGENCY:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
ACTION:
Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Justice anticipates issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would interpret the statutory definition of “machinegun” in the National Firearms Act of 1934 and Gun Control Act of 1968 to clarify whether certain devices, commonly known as “bump fire” stocks, fall within that definition. Before doing so, the Department and ATF need to gather information and comments from the public and industry regarding the nature and scope of the market for these devices.
DATES:
Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must be submitted on or before January 25, 2018. Commenters should be aware that the electronic Federal Docket Management System will not accept comments after Midnight Eastern Standard Time on the last day of the comment period.
When the NFA was enacted in 1934, only a handful of firearms qualified as machineguns, such as the Thompson submachine gun. Over time, however, as firearms technologies have advanced, manufacturers and the public have attempted to develop firearms, triggers, and other devices that permit shooters to use semiautomatic rifles to replicate automatic fire without converting these rifles into “machineguns” within the meaning of the statute. Consequently, questions have arisen about whether these types of devices should be classified as machineguns (or machinegun conversion devices) pursuant to section 5845(b).........................
https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...to-bump-fire-stocks-and-other-similar-devices
AGENCY:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
ACTION:
Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Justice anticipates issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would interpret the statutory definition of “machinegun” in the National Firearms Act of 1934 and Gun Control Act of 1968 to clarify whether certain devices, commonly known as “bump fire” stocks, fall within that definition. Before doing so, the Department and ATF need to gather information and comments from the public and industry regarding the nature and scope of the market for these devices.
DATES:
Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must be submitted on or before January 25, 2018. Commenters should be aware that the electronic Federal Docket Management System will not accept comments after Midnight Eastern Standard Time on the last day of the comment period.
When the NFA was enacted in 1934, only a handful of firearms qualified as machineguns, such as the Thompson submachine gun. Over time, however, as firearms technologies have advanced, manufacturers and the public have attempted to develop firearms, triggers, and other devices that permit shooters to use semiautomatic rifles to replicate automatic fire without converting these rifles into “machineguns” within the meaning of the statute. Consequently, questions have arisen about whether these types of devices should be classified as machineguns (or machinegun conversion devices) pursuant to section 5845(b).........................
https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...to-bump-fire-stocks-and-other-similar-devices
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