In a government crackdown not seen since the Nazi’s disarmed their citizenry in 1933, the liberal Commonwealth of Massachusetts has ordered residents to surrender bump stocks or face jail time. Although these firearm accessories were lawfully purchased and possessed, their very ownership has now become the focus of a criminal roundup.
The bump stock device became the subject of controversy after it was used during the October 1, 2017, Las Vegas massacre to fire semi-automatic weapons in a fashion consistent with fully automatic ones. The media coverage about the devices has emboldened anti-Second Amendment lobbyists and politicians. And, the political figures in the New England state appear to be purposely overreacting to the lack of bipartisan support for a bump stock ban in Congress. Despite both the National Rifle Association and Republican leadership in Congress agreeing that oversight and restrictions are necessary, Massachusetts leapt ahead with an all-out ban.
Bump stocks have rarely been cited as a cause for escalating gun violence and have been used, primarily, to aid disabled members of the community fire weapons at ranges. Following a failed measure in Washington, D.C., Massachusetts was the first to implement a Draconian ban aimed at removing the bump stock and other common accessories from every home in the commonwealth.
Already illegal in California and New Jersey, 15 or more states are considering bans on the devices. But Massachusetts seized on the public opinion backlash to end the legality of trigger cranks as well. Cranks are also widely used by disabled gun enthusiasts and can pull the trigger quickly and easily only three times.
The Massachusetts ban broadly defines bump stocks as “any device for a weapon that increases the rate of fire achievable with such weapon by using energy from the recoil of the weapon to generate a reciprocating action that facilitates repeated activation of the trigger.”
The legislation addresses trigger crank as “any device to be attached to a weapon that repeatedly activates the trigger of the weapon through the use of a lever or other part that is turned in a circular motion; provided, however, that ‘trigger crank’ shall not include any weapon initially designed and manufactured to fire through the use of a crank or lever.”
The excessive anti-gun legislation will take effect on February 1, 2018, and proactive enforcement has been planned 90 days from that date. A report obtained from the Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Public Safety and Security says that the newly enacted law will also criminalize possession of bump stocks and trigger cranks in private homes. No exceptions or waivers for licensed firearm owners with valid permits of any kind will be exempt from prosecution.
So radical is the impending implementation of the law that current bump stock and trigger crank owners cannot lawfully transfer ownership to people in a state where they are legal. Either turn in your weapon accessories for destruction or face prosecution.
~ Firearm Daily