When politicians decide to push through specific legislation, they may not realize exactly how much of an impact it can have on individuals or businesses, such as the case with the recent bump stock ban.
While individuals may find that it’s a little aggravating to have to turn in bump stocks that are suddenly illegal to own in the U.S., manufacturers are facing the problem on a whole different level.
Recently, there was a major casualty of President Trump’s ban on the controversial bump stocks: as Texas-based retailer RW Arms turned over 60,000 of the devices to FBI agents to be shredded in accordance with the law.
In case you missed it, this particular ban stops individuals from buying, selling, owning or transferring ownership of the devices known as “bump stocks”. A range of weapons with these fast-firing devices were used in the recent Las Vegas mass shooting that ended the lives of over 50 people. While it took some time, the liberal media and gun-control advocates finally raised enough of a ruckus that they managed to get President Trump to agree to banning the devices throughout the country. That change went into effect on March 26, 2019, and individuals found with the devices after that time can be hit with a $250,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison.
RW Arms may have brought the mass destruction of the bump stocks by the FBI on themselves, as the retailer bought a significant number of bump stocks from Slide Fire — a key manufacturer of bump stocks — a few weeks before they went out of business. RW Arms was making no secret of the fact that they had some inventory on offer, even going so far as to put a countdown clock on their website showing how long it would be before it was officially illegal to purchase or own a bump stock.
Since the devices are used to speed the firing rate of rifles, they’re not considered mandatory to the shooting experience, but rather an enhancement. Bump stocks were originally created to aid individuals with disabilities, making it easier for them to engage in shooting without the additional stress on the body that can come from recoil.
While the law is a frustration and largely a political move to tone down the rhetoric coming from the liberal gun-haters, the bump stock ban is real. Individuals found in possession will face the serious fines and penalties. Some states such as Washington offered incentives for turning in the devices, but those are generally over after the March 26th date. Now, your best option is to destroy the accessories to the point that they cannot be used: burning, crushing, melting or shredding them, according to the ATF website.
RW Arms is not replying to requests for comment from the media, but was very clear in their press release that they are complying with the law — and encouraging others to do the same.
~ Firearm Daily
