Federal Government Policy and Business

Trump directs Attorney General Sessions to propose regulations to ban ‘bump stocks’

The Washington Post: President Trump announced Tuesday afternoon that he has signed a memorandum directing Attorney General Jeff Sessions to propose regulations to ban “bump stocks” and other devices that turn semiautomatic firearms into “machine guns.”

The device was used by the shooter who opened fire on a country music festival in Las Vegas in October, killing dozens and immediately prompting calls for lawmakers or the administration to ban such devices through legislation or regulations. At the time, the White House and the National Rifle Association made clear that they were open to the idea. The Justice Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced in December that they had begun the process to possibly change federal regulations and outlaw bump stocks, which involves posting a public notice and soliciting comments from those with an interest. As gun-control issues are once again being discussed nationally, following a mass shooting at a high school in Florida last week, Trump was pushed to act.

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