NSSF, SAAMI urge Congress to wait on bump stock ban

Trade associations representing the gun industry issued a statement on bump stocks Monday urging Congress to wait for federal regulators to complete a review of the device before taking legislative action.

In a joint statement, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute have asked the ATF to review and evaluate the bump stock device to determine if they comply with federal laws governing machine guns.

“We urge Congress to allow ATF to complete its review before considering any legislation so that any policy decisions can be informed by the facts and ATF’s analysis,” the statement says.

The organizations — the NSSF, representing gun makers and retailers, and SAAMI, which sets manufacturing standards and best practices for gun makers — echo the sentiment shared by the National Rifle Association, which released a statement suggesting the devices should be regulated.

Pro-gun advocacy groups have largely taken a harder stance, saying they would oppose any measure that bans bump stocks. However, the Second Amendment Foundation, a litigious organization that often challenges gun laws in state and federal court and even the U.S. Supreme Court, said it would support a “productive dialogue” concerning bump stocks.

The device became the subject of debate after a gunman used the device to spray gunfire into an audience of 22,000 at a concert on the Las Vegas strip on Oct. 1, killing 58 people and injuring almost 500 others. Attaching a bump stock to a semi-auto rifle allows it to mimic full-auto fire.

The incident spurred lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to express support for banning the item by updating federal law to allow for regulation of the device. Democrats filed a proposal but a bipartisan measure has not been filed yet.