Facing congressional inaction, states move to ban bump stocks (WaPo)

by Katie Zezima
January 18

States and municipalities nationwide are attempting to ban bump stocks -- devices used to make rifles fire more rapidly -- after Congress failed to act on bipartisan resolve to restrict them following their use in a Las Vegas massacre last year.

At least 15 states are considering laws that would ban bump stocks, as is Denver. Columbia, S.C., barred them last year. The devices already are illegal in California, and some other states with bump stock restrictions are trying to tighten them.

They include New Jersey, where, in one of his last acts in office, former Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Monday completely barred bump stocks from the state. Though the use of bump stocks already had been illegal in New Jersey, the new law prohibits possessing or selling them. Owners have 90 days to voluntarily surrender their bump stocks to law enforcement, and retailers must turn them in within 30 days.
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A bipartisan coalition in Congress and the National Rifle Association almost immediately said the devices should be subject to additional regulations. Republican lawmakers punted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which has said it cannot regulate bump stocks unless Congress changes the law; the question is currently under administrative review. Bills were proposed in the Senate and House to completely ban bump stocks but no action was taken and the NRA opposes them.
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more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2018/01/18/facing-congressional-inaction-states-move-to-ban-bump-stocks/?utm_term=.ff0163e73ad8