In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court on Friday struck down a ban on bump stocks, a device that enables semiautomatic rifles to fire at speeds rivaling those of machine guns. The ruling, by a vote of 6 to 3, split along ideological lines, with Justice Clarence Thomas writing for the majority.
The decision erases one of the government’s rare firearm regulations to result from a mass shooting, specifically the tragic event at a Las Vegas concert in 2017. The ban was enacted by the Trump administration after the gunman in that incident used bump stocks to carry out one of the deadliest massacres in modern American history.
Justice Thomas argued that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had exceeded its power by classifying bump stocks as machine guns. He provided technical details and diagrams to explain how bump stocks work and why they should not be considered machine guns under the law.
The decision has sparked immediate backlash, with Democrats blaming former President Trump and his nominees on the court for the outcome. President Biden called on Congress to act to ban the device, emphasizing the need to address gun violence in the country.
The case was brought by Michael Cargill, a gun shop owner in Texas, who was supported by the New Civil Liberties Alliance. The organization, backed by billionaire Charles Koch, aims to challenge what it sees as unlawful uses of administrative power.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissent, criticized the majority for ignoring Congress’s definition of a machine gun and putting “machine guns back in civilian hands.” She argued that bump stocks should be considered machine guns based on the statutory text and its meaning.
The decision has broader implications for gun rights and the power of administrative agencies. Justice Samuel Alito Jr. agreed with the majority’s interpretation, suggesting that Congress could amend the law to address the disparate treatment of bump stocks and machine guns.
The ruling comes after years of legal battles and political pressure following the Las Vegas shooting and other mass shootings in the country. The Supreme Court’s decision could have far-reaching consequences for gun regulations and the ongoing debate over gun control in the United States.
