You are thinking narrowly about legislation. It's true that as long as Republicans control the Senate (which they are likely to do even after the 2020 election), antigun bills are unlikely to get out of Congress.
However, what we're talking about here with this bump stock ban is executive action. As soon as a Democrat wins the presidency, he could order the ATF to reclassify AR-15's as machine guns, based on being "readily convertible" to full automatic. Then, as they were not registered as machine guns by May 19, 1986, they would be contraband and subject to seizure without compensation. All the various parts of this would be in place, based on the bump stock precedent. That's why it must be challenged and overturned in the courts now. If it stands, we're done for.
They could do
that regardless. They ARE going to try to ban AR-15s no matter what -- Pelosi has said so. And it won't be like 1994 - 2004, it
WILL be a "turn 'em all in" type of ban.
I never said this executive decision should not be challenged in court. It SHOULD be and I think a well designed and executed challenge stands a good chance given how this was done and how machineguns are defined.
I've said before I do not either care for, or like, or own bumpstocks. But I stand opposed to antigun laws.
It's a principle type of thing.
As a point of principle, I think the NFA of 1934 is unconstitutional. I'd like to see it repealed.
But that doesn't mean, in the real world we live in, it will be repealed. It would be a tough fight to accomplish it and truthfully, for the next few years atleast, we're going to be in the need of devoting our all to defeating proposed antigun measures.....if we succeed, then we will need to win the hearts and minds of Mr. and Ms. Joe Sixpack in America if we are going to go farther.
Any president can do something via exec. order. Obama started this in his administration when congress would not go along with him. I was very surprised he did nothing, or atleast nothing BIG, about gun control through E. O. during that time.
Now Trump is reversing much of Obama's legacy the same way ..... and, hey, when "my guy" does it I'm all on board!
But these exec orders do pose a serious question for America; for the sake of our representative republic and the balance of power, should we really want presidents to continue to rule by fiat, even presidents we like?
A looming question for America, affecting much more than gun rights ......