As we reported earlier today, our friends at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives and Really Big Fires is considering what kind of mental and logical contortions would be necessary to reverse their earlier decision regarding bump fire stocks. In other words, they’re trying to figure out how to go full Emily Litella, do a total 180 and regulate these innocuous pieces of plastic just as they would a Browning Ma Deuce.
By law, in order to do that they have to issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making, inviting public comments on their potential new inanity stance. And to get that process started they have to publish the NPRM in the federal register, something they anticipate doing tomorrow.
Thanks to our friends at the Military Arms Channel, we got our grubby little hands on their filing.
SUMMARY: The Department of Justice anticipates issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would interpret the statutory definition of “machinegun” in the National Firearms Act of 1934 and Gun Control Act of 1968 to clarify whether certain devices, commonly known as “bump fire” stocks, fall within that definition. Before doing so, the Department and ATF need to gather information and comments from the public and industry regarding the nature and scope of the market for these devices.
DATES: Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must be submitted on or before [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. Commenters should be aware that the electronic Federal Docket Management System will not accept comments after Midnight Eastern Standard Time on the last day of the comment period.
You can read the entire document here. Have at it.