The Supreme Court has ruled that a federal ban on bump stocks is unlawful, marking a significant moment for former President Donald Trump, who originally imposed the ban. The 6-3 ruling, split along ideological lines, has brought Trump's nuanced stance on gun control into sharp focus, revealing his anticipation of judicial reversal.
Following the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, which tragically claimed 58 lives and injured hundreds, Trump faced immense pressure to address the legality of bump stocks-devices that enable semi-automatic rifles to fire at a rate comparable to automatic weapons. Despite widespread public support for banning bump stocks, Trump opted to use his executive authority to direct the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to classify them as machine guns, effectively banning their use.
This executive action allowed Trump to address the immediate public outcry without pushing through divisive legislation that might fracture his party and alienate gun-rights supporters. His approach was seen as a temporary measure, likely to be challenged and overturned by a conservative-leaning Supreme Court. This belief was validated by Friday's ruling.
In the court's opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas clarified that a firearm equipped with a bump stock does not meet the federal definition of a machine gun. "This case asks whether a bump stock-an accessory for a semiautomatic rifle that allows the shooter to rapidly reengage the trigger (and therefore achieve a high rate of fire)-converts the rifle into a 'machine gun.' We hold that it does not," Thomas wrote.
Reacting to the decision, Trump's campaign spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, issued a statement underscoring the need to respect the court's ruling. "The court has spoken and their decision should be respected," she said, emphasizing Trump's strong defense of Second Amendment rights and his endorsement by the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Trump's reaction to the ruling contrasts with his typical approach of criticizing judicial decisions that do not align with his interests. Instead, his campaign's statement highlighted his strategic navigation of the gun control debate and his alignment with the NRA. Trump's executive action in 2017 was designed to lower the political temperature and delay legislative efforts, effectively kicking the issue to a judiciary he believed would ultimately side with gun rights.
The NRA, which initially supported Trump's executive action as a tactical move to prevent broader gun control legislation, is likely to welcome the court's decision. The organization has consistently argued that the classification of bump stocks as machine guns represented an overreach of regulatory authority.
For gun control advocates, the ruling represents a significant setback. "We've seen bump stocks cause immense destruction and violence," said Esther Sanchez-Gomez, litigation director at Giffords Law Center. "The majority of justices today sided with the gun lobby instead of the safety of the American people. This is a shameful decision."
