Supreme Court upholds bump stock ban in big win for gun safety advocates

DEVIN DWYER
·1 min read
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Supreme Court upholds bump stock ban in big win for gun safety advocates

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected two appeals by gun owners seeking to overturn the federal government's ban on the sale of bump stocks -- devices that allow a semiautomatic firearm to shoot more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger.

The court did not elaborate on its decision, which is a significant victory for gun safety advocates and government efforts to regulate dangerous weapons.

PHOTO: In this Nov. 3, 2021, file photo, demonstrators rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Jose Luis Magana/AP, FILE)
PHOTO: In this Nov. 3, 2021, file photo, demonstrators rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Jose Luis Magana/AP, FILE)

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After the Las Vegas shooting massacre in 2017, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives revised federal regulations to define bump stocks as machine guns under a 1986 law that bans machine guns.

Several pro-gun groups challenged the rules over what they argued was mischaracterization of the devices.

The ban makes possession of a bump stock a felony subject to up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. More than 500,000 Americans who previously purchased a bump stock will be required to turn it in or destroy it, gun advocacy groups have said.

MORE: Trump administration issues rule banning bump stocks, more than a year after Las Vegas rampage

The rejected cases are Aphosian v. Garland, and Gun Owners of America v. Garland.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Supreme Court upholds bump stock ban in big win for gun safety advocates originally appeared on abcnews.go.com