Following the horrific events of October 1 in Las Vegas, the subject of bump stocks flared into a firestorm of controversy. The legal devices were sold over the internet after the BATFE had given their approval on the things several years earlier. They were a novelty device up until a maniac opened fire on a concert, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more.

In the aftermath, everyone wanted to target bump stocks, it seemed. Even our own pro-Second Amendment commenters were somewhat divided on the subject.

The National Rifle Association felt the call on regulating bump stocks belonged to the BATFE, while BATFE argued their ruling was in complete accordance with federal law and that Congress needed to act if that needed to change.

Now it seems that BATFE has decided to go along with the NRA’s proposal instead.

From The Truth About Guns:

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.

There you have it.

Let’s bear in mind that bump stocks are only one way to facilitate bump-fire. Other items used to create bump-fire include rubber bands and belt loops, so regulating bump stocks won’t actually accomplish a blasted thing.

At best, this would be a trophy to allow groups like Giffords to point to a scalp on their wall as if they’d actually accomplished anything, anything at all.

It won’t make anyone safer. It won’t prevent another Las Vegas. It won’t change much of anything except to maybe turn thousands of ordinary Americans into criminals because they already own bump stocks but don’t really follow gun news that much.

That’s about the only things that new regulations might do. Nice job.

I guess it may make some people feel warm and tingly in their bed at night, content that they’ve helped get a big win for their side…until someone else uses bump-fire for some nefarious purpose.

Then, rather than take a step back and realize that maybe they’re beating their heads against the wall, they’ll just look for something else to try and ban.