On Friday, a federal appeals court ruled against a ban on bump stocks, which are devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to fire at a faster rate, effectively turning them into automatic weapons. The bump stock ban was put in place during the Trump administration in response to the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, in which bump stocks were used by the shooter to kill 58 people and injure hundreds more.
The ban was challenged by gun rights advocates, who argued that it violated the Second Amendment. In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court agreed, stating that the ban exceeded the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and was therefore unlawful.
This ruling has been met with both support and criticism. Supporters of the ban argue that bump stocks pose a significant risk to public safety and should be banned, while opponents argue that the ban infringes on their right to bear arms.
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The decision is likely to be appealed, with the case potentially making its way to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the bump stock ban remains in place, though it is unclear how it will be enforced given the recent ruling.
The use of bump stocks in mass shootings has reignited the debate over gun control in the United States, with many calling for stricter laws to prevent similar tragedies in the future. It remains to be seen how the issue will be addressed in the coming months and years, but it is clear that the conversation around gun control is far from over.