WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Justice Department announced Tuesday that it is reviewing the legality of “bump stocks,” two months after a man shot down 58 concert-goers from a Las Vegas hotel window using the devices.
The Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — which regulates firearms but not gun accessories — will determine whether the devices, which make a semi-automatic weapon perform like an automatic weapon, are illegal.
“Possessing firearm parts that are used exclusively in converting a weapon into a machine gun is illegal, except for certain limited circumstances,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
“Today we begin the process of determining whether or not bump stocks are covered by this prohibition.”
Bump stocks were little-known outside the firearms community until October 1, when Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old real estate investor and gambler, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, killing 58 and wounding scores more at a country music concert below.
Paddock, whose motive remains a mystery, had equipped 12 of his AR-15-style assault rifles with bump stocks. Using the spring effect of the stock against the shooter’s shoulder, the devices allow a person to fire at a rate of hundreds of rounds a minute, nearly the pace of a machine gun.
Automatic weapons are illegal in the United States. But bump stocks are not regulated because they are seen as accessories to guns rather than functional parts under ATF regulations.
Sessions said the department and ATF had to go through a formal rule-making process that allows comment from the public and the firearms industry.
“ATF and the Department will proceed in accordance with this process as quickly as possible,” they said in a statement.
After the Las Vegas shooting, many members of Congress called for a ban on the devices, and Senator Dianne Feinstein submitted a bill to ban assault rifles and bump stocks.
The powerful National Rifle Association lobby had called for an ATF review but said they opposed legislation for a ban.
© Agence France-Presse
