NRA comes out in favor of 'additional regulations' on bump stocks

published 5 October 2017

The National Rifle Association on Thursday issued a surprising statement calling for "additional regulations" on bump stocks, the device used in the Las Vegas massacre to convert gunman Stephen Paddock's rifles from semi-automatic to a more rapid fire that was essentially fully automatic. NRA President Wayne LaPierre and top lobbyist Chris Cox issued the joint statement "calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law."

While supporting additional scrutiny for bump stock sales, the NRA reaffirmed its commitment to the right of gun ownership. "Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks. This is a fact that has been proven time and again in countries across the world," the statement read.

The Obama administration approved the sale of bump stocks in 2010. Some Republicans, including Sens. Ron Johnson (Wis.) and John Cornyn (Texas), said Wednesday that they were open to a Democratic proposal to ban the modifiers, while White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at Thursday's press briefing that the Trump administration would "certainly welcome" a discussion on bump stock regulation.