Bump stocks allow semi-automatic rifles to fire as fast as machine guns due to rapid recoil movements.
Court argues ATF's classification of bump stocks as 'machine guns' under the law is incorrect.
Decision sent back to Congress who can change definition of machine guns to include bump stocks if they choose.
Supreme Court overturns federal ban on bump stocks in a 6-3 majority opinion on June 14, 2024.
In a stunning turn of events, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on bump stocks in a 6-3 majority opinion on June 14, 2024. Bump stocks are rapid-fire gun accessories that can attach to a semi-automatic rifle, allowing it to fire as fast as a machine gun. The ruling was not directly related to the Second Amendment but focused on the definition of a 'function' in relation to firing triggers. With a bump stock, one pull of the trigger results in multiple rounds being fired at machine-gun speeds due to rapid recoil movements. The court argued that this difference is significant enough for the ATF's classification of bump stocks as 'machine guns' under the law to be incorrect. This decision has now been sent back to Congress, who can change the definition of machine guns to include bump stocks if they choose. Gun rights activists believe this ruling won't affect other bans such as those on Glock switches or auto sears but could impact other ATF bans like the one on guns without serial numbers (ghost guns). At least 15 states and the District of Columbia have bump stock bans in place, which are not affected by this Supreme Court decision. The ruling has left survivors of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting and their families alarmed, as bump stocks were a key component in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
The Supreme Court struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks in a 6-3 majority opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas.
Bump stocks are rapid-fire gun accessories used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that each trigger depression in rapid succession still only releases one shot, making bump stocks not equivalent to machine guns under current law.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article contains editorializing and sensationalism. The author uses phrases like 'thrust guns back into the center of the political conversation' and 'reopening political fight'. These phrases are not factual statements but rather attempts to manipulate emotions and create a sense of urgency.
The gunman fired more than 1,000 rounds into the crowd in 11 minutes, sending thousands of people fleeing in terror as hundreds were wounded and dozens killed.
The ruling thrust guns back into the center of the political conversation with an unusual twist as Democrats decried the reversal of a GOP administration’s action and many Republicans backed the ruling.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several informal fallacies and an appeal to authority. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the mass shooting in Las Vegas as 'the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history' and 'another mass shooting.' This is not a factual statement, but rather an emotional appeal to evoke a strong reaction from the reader. Additionally, the author quotes Danette Meyers stating that 'The ruling is really just another way of inviting people to have another mass shooting,' which is an appeal to fear and an overgeneralization. The author also quotes Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo expressing his disappointment with the decision, which is an appeal to authority as he is positioned as a law enforcement expert.
the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history
another mass shooting
The ruling is really just another way of inviting people to have another mass shooting
Victor Link and Craig Link were supposed to be at the concert together but Craig survived.
Shawna Bartlett helped load her friend into an ambulance during the shooting and survived.
Danette Meyers, a spokesperson for the family of Christiana Duarte who was killed in the shooting, expressed concern that even if Congress acts to ban bump stocks again, it may take time and allow someone to buy one and cause another mass shooting.
Alvin Black, a tourist who likes guns but opposes bump stocks, said enabling people to make assault rifles more lethal with bump stocks is a terrible idea and not useful for everyday gun owners.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on bump stocks.
Bump stocks can attach to a semi-automatic rifle to make it fire as fast as a machine gun.
Machine guns have been effectively banned for most people since the 1930s, but there were doubts about whether that ban applies to attachments that can make legal guns shoot as fast as a machine gun.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) went back and forth over whether to ban bump stocks.
After the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, many bump stock owners saw a ban coming, and the Trump Administration moved to ban bump stocks which took effect in 2019.
The court's reasoning to lift the ban was based on the law's definition of machine gun, focusing on the word 'function', stating that it's not the same as a pull of the trigger.
With a bump stock, one pull of the trigger results in multiple rounds being fired at machine-gun speeds due to rapid recoil movements.
The court argued that this difference is significant enough for ATF's classification of bump stocks as 'machine guns' under the law to be incorrect.
Bump stocks are not directly related to other types of gun attachments like Glock switches, according to Adam Skaggs, chief counsel with Giffords Law.
Six justices on the Supreme Court expressed skepticism about ATF's regulations suggesting they may look at other ATF regulations with caution.
Gun rights lawyers believe this ruling won't affect the ban on Glock switches or auto sears but could impact other ATF bans like the one on guns without serial numbers (ghost guns).
At least 15 states and the District of Columbia have bump stock bans in place, which are not affected by this Supreme Court decision as it is not a Second Amendment ruling. The court stated that Congress could change the definition of machine guns to include bump stocks if they choose.
The Gun Violence Archive reports 215 mass shootings in the US in 2024, with their definition being four or more people shot or killed (excluding the shooter).
Both Ms Gooze and Ms Quintero expressed disappointment that the gun debate had become politicized.
Accuracy
The Supreme Court struck down the ban on bump stocks on Friday.
The high court's conservative majority found that the Trump administration overstepped when it banned bump stocks.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that each trigger depression in rapid succession still only releases one shot, making bump stocks not equivalent to machine guns under current law.
Prospects for passing gun restrictions in the current divided Congress are dim.
Deception
(30%)
The author expresses her personal opinions and emotions towards the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the ban on bump stocks. She also quotes survivors of the Las Vegas shooting sharing their reactions to the decision. These statements are editorializing and emotional manipulation.
For survivors like Ms Gooze, who identifies as liberal and thought Trump’s ban was ‘phenomenal’, the ruling felt like a step backward for the country.
Ms Gooze, 50, still vividly remembers the panic of helping people flee the carnage, and the frantic battle to save the people struck by the more than 1,000 rounds that the gunman fired with the help of his weapon’s modification.
But despite her reservations, she still thinks the Supreme Court was wrong to reinstate access to bump stocks.
Gun violence remains a major public safety issue in the United States. The nation has experienced 215 mass shootings so far in 2024, according to the Gun Violence Archive (their methodology defines a mass shooting as when four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter).
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to emotion when quoting Heather Gooze's statement 'Who has ever used a bump stock for good? There's no reason for a civilian to use a mass shooting machine.' This is an appeal to emotion fallacy as it attempts to elicit an emotional response from the reader rather than providing logical reasoning. The author also makes several dichotomous depictions by presenting only two extreme viewpoints, such as 'if someone has it in their mind to do it, they’re going to find a way or other means' versus 'we need them to keep what little freedom we have left. It’s the government that’s the enemy.' This creates a false dilemma and oversimplifies complex issues.
]Who has ever used a bump stock for good?[
There’s no reason for a civilian to use a mass shooting machine.
Bias
(90%)
The author expresses her personal opinion that the Supreme Court's decision to reinstate access to bump stocks is a step backward for the country and a slap in the face for survivors of mass shootings. She also quotes survivors expressing their disappointment with the decision.
For survivors like Ms Gooze, who identifies as liberal and thought Trump’s ban was ‘phenomenal’, the ruling felt like a step backward for the country.
Ms Quintero, 41, said she does not necessarily believe that more stringent gun restrictions would help prevent mass shootings. She also believes not enough proposed solutions address mental health. But despite her reservations, she still thinks the Supreme Court was wrong to reinstate access to bump stocks.
One survivor wrote in a message that Ms Gooze read to the BBC: ‘A gun isn’t the issue, we need them to keep what little freedom we have left. It’s the government that’s the enemy.’
In 2017, a gunman used bump stocks to kill 60 people at a concert in Las Vegas, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.
Bump stocks are attachments that allow a semiautomatic rifle to fire faster by replacing the standard stock and harnessing the energy from the weapon’s kickback.
Accuracy
The ban on bump stocks, which was put in place by executive order in 2018, gained support from Democrats, Republicans and even the National Rifle Association following the Las Vegas shooting.
