ATF Got 36K Comments About Bump Stocks, 85 Percent Anti-Regulation

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) collected 36,000 submissions about bump stocks in the aftermath of the Las Vegas mass shooting, and most comments were against regulation, The Trace reported.

The ATF, which in 2010 ruled that bump stocks would not be subjected to federal regulation, is now considering re-imposing regulations on the devices by classifying them as machine guns.

But it wanted to get some feedback from manufacturers, retailers and consumers first.

The Trace analyzed 32,000 of those, finding that 85 percent were opposed to regulating the devices that allow a semi-automatic weapon to simulate automatic fire. Bump stocks were used by Stephen Paddock to rain down hundreds of bullets on concert-goers in October, killing 58 and injuring hundreds.

The Trace's analysis of the 32,000 submissions:

• 64 percent were anti-regulation with unique comments.
• 21 percent were anti-regulation, form letter.
• 7 percent were pro-regulation, form letter.
• 6 percent were pro-regulation with unique comments.

"If you actually look at the request ATF put out — and the questions they asked — this was structured toward the industry,” David Chipman, a senior policy adviser at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and retired ATF agent, told The Hill.

• Arizona Man Who Sold Ammo to Las Vegas Shooter Is Charged
• Vegas Police Still Don't Know Motive of Mass Shooter