The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the firearms industry’s lobby group. The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) sets the industry’s technical standards. The NSSF and SAMMI issued the following joint statement, pretty much calling on the ATF to restrict the sale of bump fire stocks under the National Firearms Act. Reading it, I can only conclude . . .
that the firearms industry as a whole is happy to have the ATF violate the letter of federal law in a misguided, not-to-say doomed attempt to prevent future spree killings and/or appease gun control advocates. True? We report, you deride.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families and loved ones of all those killed and injured in the criminal attack in Las Vegas. The manufacture, distribution and sale of automatic firearms and their components has been stringently regulated by federal laws since 1934.
We believe the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) should interpret and enforce existing laws and regulations.
We call upon ATF to conduct a prompt review and evaluation of aftermarket trigger activation devices such as bump stocks to determine whether they are lawful to install and use on a firearm under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA), or whether, if they have no function or purpose other than to convert a conventional firearm into an automatic firearm, they are regulated items under the NFA.
We urge Congress to allow ATF to complete its review before considering any legislation so that any policy decisions can be informed by the facts and ATF’s analysis.