Bump Stocks == Machine Guns?

[benenglish]

The BATFE has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments in response to this stuff -

Following the Las Vegas shooting, a significant amount of public attention has been focused on bump stock-type devices. ATF has received correspondence from the general public and from members of both houses of Congress requesting that ATF re-examine its past classification decisions concerning bump stock devices to determine whether they should be classified as machineguns...

The public comment period closes in less than a month. If you want to keep bump stocks classified as just pieces of plastic (or, I suppose, if you want them re-classified as machineguns), you need to file a comment.

See: https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...to-bump-fire-stocks-and-other-similar-devices

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I wonder if pistol braces will be next....

 

[AustinN4]

I wonder if pistol braces will be next....

Only yours.

 

[easy rider]

It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to rig up their own device. It's silly.

 

[AustinN4]

It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to rig up their own device. It's silly.

Don't need no stink'in bump fire stock - starts are the 1 minute mark:

 

[Shady]

the way it was worded or at least on ar15 site it may also ban the binary triggers and a few other things.

and sent my comment

 

[benenglish]

the way it was worded or at least on ar15 site it may also ban the binary triggers and a few other things.

This particular request for comments applies only to bump stocks.

The legislation that was introduced right after the Vegas shooting included bump stocks, binary triggers, and anything else they could think to throw in. Heck, the language was so generalized that literally oiling your AR would be made illegal. That legislation went nowhere.

Now they're trying to accomplish the same thing, in smaller, discrete steps, starting with the bump stocks and going the route of rule-making instead of law-making.

 

[Younggun]

If we're lucky Trump will step in and squash it altogether.

 

[Vaquero]

This particular request for comments applies only to bump stocks.

The legislation that was introduced right after the Vegas shooting included bump stocks, binary triggers, and anything else they could think to throw in. Heck, the language was so generalized that literally oiling your AR would be made illegal. That legislation went nowhere.

Now they're trying to accomplish the same thing, in smaller, discrete steps, starting with the bump stocks and going the route of rule-making instead of law-making.

Like playing board games with an older sibling.

 

[Byrd666]

...And this is what you get when you let your know-it-all cousin speak for you.

ETA:


Sorry Ben. I know this is only a PSA and "Hey y'all" thing. I was out of line with my last comment. Just fed up to my hairline with the NRA complacency and backstabbing.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Since the comment request is specific, and I don't care about them, or binary triggers, or that stuff, I should not comment?

 

[easy rider]

I don't know, how many miles have you given an inch at a time?

 

[benenglish]

Since the comment request is specific, and I don't care about them, or binary triggers, or that stuff, I should not comment?

I think I know your situation well enough to understand that you're not a manufacturer or retailer. According to the request for comment, the specific information sought from "Consumers" such as you is:

21. In your experience, where have you seen these devices for sale and which of these has been the most common outlet from which consumers have purchased these devices (e.g., brick and mortar retail stores; online vendors; gun shows or similar events; or private sales between individuals)?
22. Based on your experience or observations, what is (or has been) the price range for these devices?
23. For what purposes are the bump stock devices used or advertised?

Whether or not you choose to comment is up to you.

My personal opinion is that all "Consumers" should comment. I'm sure all the manufacturers and many of the retailers are putting a great deal of effort into doing so.

 

[benenglish]

Filed my comment. If anybody wants to read it when it comes up on the site, my tracking number is 1k1-90mr-pzuz.

 

[Shady]

that may be true but this is posted under supplementary info.

Those engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing, or dealing in NFA firearms must be registered with the Attorney General. 26 U.S.C. 5801, 5802. 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). See, e.g., Internal Revenue Ruling 55-528 (1955) (considering whether types of “Gatling Guns” constitute machineguns); ATF Ruling 2006-2 (examining a firearms accessory device that, when activated by a single pull of the trigger, initiated an automatic firing cycle that continued until release).

This particular request for comments applies only to bump stocks.

The legislation that was introduced right after the Vegas shooting included bump stocks, binary triggers, and anything else they could think to throw in. Heck, the language was so generalized that literally oiling your AR would be made illegal. That legislation went nowhere.

Now they're trying to accomplish the same thing, in smaller, discrete steps, starting with the bump stocks and going the route of rule-making instead of law-making.

 

[Shady]

this was my comment

as a consumer

I have seen bumpfire stocks found for sale at online retailers,gun shows,private party sales,and multiple auction sites.

The price depending on the manufacturer has been $100 to $800

All the adds and info on the stocks is to have fun with a legal to own weapon. And to let you try and reach the built in rate of fire a simi auto rifle can achieve if you are not capable of shooting as fast as a skilled marksman like Jerry ‎Miculek who can shoot faster than most people using a bumpfire stock with a regular gun.

I see no point in trying to reclassify gun parts that do not alter the rate of fire or number of bullets fired per pull of the trigger as a machine gun. And the bump stock dose not do either.

 

[Renegade]

Since the comment request is specific, and I don't care about them, or binary triggers, or that stuff, I should not comment?

BATFE is definitely counting on Pastor Neimoller to do nothing.

 

[benenglish]

this was my comment

If that was your comment, it will not be considered. The format of a comment is not specified but certain elements are absolute requirements and without them the comments will be discarded. Your comment fails to specify the agency, does not specifically tie each paragraph of your comment to the question being answered, and does not specify the docket number.

From the Request for Comments:

Each commenter or commenting party should include the identifying number of the specific question(s) to which it is responding. ... All comments must reference the docket number 2017R-22,...

 

[ZX9RCAM]

So, out of hundreds of comments, about 12 will be considered.....






Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[benenglish]

So, out of hundreds of comments, about 12 will be considered....

The language in the request is subject to interpretation and perhaps some shortcomings will be allowed to slide. The failure to include the docket number in the body of the comment, however, is fatal. The requirement for its inclusion is repeated several times.

And you make a good point. Lots of people do business with the federal government not because they're good at their jobs but because they have people on staff who understand how to read and perfectly follow directions. There are lots of small businesses who could go after government contracts but throw up their hands in disgust when they realize what a labyrinthine paper trail they must follow. The paperwork is a killer

In these cases, I feel fairly sure that comments are run against a script that looks for a string of characters in the docket number format. If no such string is found, the comments will go straight to /dev/null.