Federal ban making bump stock devices illegal begins today

The federal law to ban the use and ownership of bump stock devices takes effect today. A bump stock is a device that is added to a gun which allows it to shoot multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger.

It was the same device that killed more than 50 people in the Las Vegas shooting in 2017. In 2018, the law was amended making them illegal nationwide. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is now asking bump stock owners to destroy or dispose of them at designated law enforcement offices.

However, collecting bump stocks may be a challenge in itself. According to Bannock County Sheriff, Lorin Nielsen, there is no way to know who owns a bump stock device.

“As a sheriff, I’m not too excited about the guidelines we have not received yet,” Nielsen said. “I’m not going to send an officer to pick up somebody’s bump stock, let alone pick up their guns. That’s just isn’t going to happen. I don’t think it’s going to be happening very much in the state at all.”

Neilsen continued to say Bannock County law enforcement will proceed with the law when they receive further instruction. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has still not given contacted Bannock County to instruct how to implement the new legislation. There are currently no designated locations in Bannock County to dispose of the bump stock.