Governor Brian Sandoval and Attorney General Adam Laxalt issued statements of support for President Donald Trump’s proposed ban on bump stocks.
Bump-fire stocks are gun attachments that make semi-automatics fire similar to full-auto. Las Vegas shooter Steven Paddock used the stocks to shoot and kill 58 people Oct. 1, 2017 while injuring more than another 850 people. Bump stocks were used to fire more than 1,000 rounds into a large crowd in 10 minutes.
The items are not regulated because, by themselves, currently unregulated bump stocks do not constitute a firearm.
“Bump-fire stocks with ‘coiled springs’ and that initiate automatic fire with a single trigger pull are regulated as firearms under the (1934 National Firearms Act); however, modified stocks without any ‘automatically functioning mechanical parts or springs’ are not similarly regulated,” according to William Krouse, a federal specialist in domestic security and crime policy.
President Trump issued a memo Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General Sessions directing him to “propose for notice and comment a rule banning all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns.”
Trump specifically mentioned the Las Vegas shooting, which was noted by Sandoval.
“The shocking and cowardly act of senseless violence that claimed the lives of 58 individuals on Oct. 1 will forever leave a scar on our state and nation,” said Governor Sandoval. “I have said before that the federal action is the appropriate approach for sanctions on bump stocks or similar accessories, as it would be the most direct path for a swift and uniform change.
“I applaud President Trump for making this issue a priority within his administration and pledge to work with him on this important issue. The safety of our children and families is second to none.”
Laxalt issued a similar statement today, along with a jointly signed letter with other state attorneys general.
“In the wake of the 1 October Las Vegas tragedy that cost our community 58 precious lives, my office cosponsored a bipartisan letter to Congress requesting that they evaluate whether bump stocks should be regulated in the same manner as machine guns,” Laxalt said. “Today, I commend the president for directing the Department of Justice to expeditiously review how the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regulates bump stocks and similar devices.
“I support his efforts to protect Nevadans and all citizens from the dangers posed by unrestricted fully automatic weapons.”
