Bump Stocks Could Be Banned in Michigan

Recently, the Supreme Court rejected a rule banning bump stocks, but a bill is proposed to ban them in Michigan.

What is a Bump Stock?

The Supreme Court recently voted 6-3 to lift the ban on bump stocks. If you're not a gun enthusiast, you may not even know what a bump stock is.

A bump stock replaces the standard stock of a rifle, allowing a semi-automatic weapon to fire more quickly. It works by sliding back and forth against a person's shoulder while shooting.

Since automatic weapons are illegal in the United States, the bump stock was developed to circumvent the law. I have shot a few semi-automatic rifles and they can be fired quickly, so there is no need to use a bump stock.

I had never heard of bump stocks until 2017 when the Las Vegas mass shooting took place at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Stephen Paddock, 64, fired a semi-automatic weapon using a bump stock, killing 60 people and injuring 413 others. So, gun enthusiasts, don’t start complaining, I’m not against semi-automatic weapons, but I do disagree with the use of bump stocks because it allows a weapon to behave like an automatic weapon.

Learn more: Should Michigan have an AR-15 as its state firearm?

Bump Stocks Bill to Ban Them in Michigan

According to Patch, Michigan Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) recently introduced a bill that would make the manufacturing, sale and possession of surrogate stocks illegal across the state. This is not a ban on semi-automatic weapons, just the bump stock.

If the bill passes, Michigan won't be alone in banning bulk stocks. There are 15 other states, and the District of Columbia already has a similar ban.

Weapons that are illegal to possess in Michigan