It’s a major win for private gun owners, but will gun violence advocates find a way to fight back?
After being set in place for more than five years, a U.S. appeals court reversed a rule surrounding the use of “bump stocks” with semi-automatic guns. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision right before the weekend, in a 13-3 decision.
Even though the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) had previously noted that a law banning machine guns extended to its accessories (in this case, bump stocks), U.S. Circuit Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod noted this wasn’t the case. She also noted that the law that was put in place didn’t provide “fair warning that possession of a non-mechanical bump stock is a crime.”
Former President Donald Trump put the rule in place back in 2017 after a gunman laid siege during a Las Vegas concert, killing 58 people in the process. President Joe Biden, upon swearing in years later, kept the rule intact.
While some private gun owners may see this as a win, there’s a question as to what anti-violence advocates and certain politicians will do about the reversal. Joining us now to discuss it further is Stephen Willeford, a spokesman for the Gun Owners of America. You may recall in 2017 how he stopped the Sutherland Springs, Texas mass shooting, acting as the “good guy with a gun.” His expertise is welcome in this matter.
Q&A:
- Why is this reversal on the bump stocks law such an important win for gun groups and private collectors?
- Do you believe the ATF failed to properly classify bump stocks when they tried to automatically include them in the banning of certain assault rifles? Was this a failure to properly provide classification?
- There are some that believe the reversal could lead to more violent acts like the one we saw back in 2017? What argument would you have for someone discussing this?
- What do you think politicians or certain anti-gun advocates will try to do now with this reversal?
- Will this reversal possibly put a dent in President Biden’s potential plans to ban “assault weapons” entirely?
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as the Gun Owners of America?
My official website is http://www.stephenwilleford.com. You can read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents the Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all 2nd Amendment issues, as well as the importance of the Gun Owners of America. You can read more about him at http://www.stephenwilleford.com.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: jerry.specialguests@gmail.com or 919-437-0001.
