I happened to see a bit of a show on MSNBC yesterday during which there was a panel discussing gun control. The specific subject was the NRA's statement that it thought bump stocks should be regulated. Bump stocks, of course, are the devices that can be added to a semi-automatic weapon to make it mimic a machine gun. The Las Vegas shooter used these devices to spray bullets into the crowd at a furious pace.
The move to regulate bump stocks has been gaining support in the last few days. After all, there already is federal law that bans manufacture of automatic weapons for sale to the public. Indeed, the ban on machine guns has been in place since the 1930's when it was put in place to keep such weapons out of the hands of Al Capone and the mob. Since bump stocks are just a way to get the equivalent of a machine gun despite the ban on such weapons, there's no reason to allow these devices to remain legal. It's also worth noting that bump stocks reduce the accuracy of the weapon to a great extent. They have no purpose in hunting or any other valid use of the weapons. (Okay, maybe if you are preparing for the zombie apocalypse you might want some.)
What I found interesting on MSNBC was the reaction to the NRA supporting the regulation of bump stocks. I hoped that those on the left would welcome the NRA position and move quickly forward to help get the new rules in place. Instead, the MSNBC panel spent time discussing how the NRA was really trying to thwart doing anything to limit the bump stocks. They seemed so opposed to anything that the NRA does that when they could have been happy with the agreement, they just continued to attack no matter the facts. I can't say I was surprised by this, but it certainly was a disappointment.
The move to regulate bump stocks has been gaining support in the last few days. After all, there already is federal law that bans manufacture of automatic weapons for sale to the public. Indeed, the ban on machine guns has been in place since the 1930's when it was put in place to keep such weapons out of the hands of Al Capone and the mob. Since bump stocks are just a way to get the equivalent of a machine gun despite the ban on such weapons, there's no reason to allow these devices to remain legal. It's also worth noting that bump stocks reduce the accuracy of the weapon to a great extent. They have no purpose in hunting or any other valid use of the weapons. (Okay, maybe if you are preparing for the zombie apocalypse you might want some.)
What I found interesting on MSNBC was the reaction to the NRA supporting the regulation of bump stocks. I hoped that those on the left would welcome the NRA position and move quickly forward to help get the new rules in place. Instead, the MSNBC panel spent time discussing how the NRA was really trying to thwart doing anything to limit the bump stocks. They seemed so opposed to anything that the NRA does that when they could have been happy with the agreement, they just continued to attack no matter the facts. I can't say I was surprised by this, but it certainly was a disappointment.
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