States, Cities Ban Bump Stocks.

• Author: Frazzini, Kevin
• Position: TRENDS

For a short time after last year's mass shooting in Las Vegas, there was bipartisan interest in a federal ban on bump fire stocks, which the shooter used to make his semiautomatic rifles fire at a rate similar to that of a fully automatic weapon. The National Rifle Association stated last fall that bump stocks "should be subject to additional regulations." And even President Trump said in February that he would direct the U.S. Department of Justice to outlaw the devices.

While Congress' urgency to act on the devices has waned, three states and at least two cities have acted on their own.

Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington, along with the cities of Denver and Columbia, S.C., have enacted laws prohibiting the sale and possession of bump stocks. California and New York do not explicitly prohibit the devices, but they may fall under their bans on automatic weapons. This year, California introduced a bill to clarify the issue in statute, and more than 20 other states have considered or are considering bump stock bans.

Massachusetts enacted its ban about a month after the Las Vegas shooting. New Jersey's bill became law in January. "While Congress is twiddling its thumbs, New Jersey will step up," Senator Raymond...