Residents of Jackson, Mississippi are still discussing the legality of gun modifications. The ongoing debate questions what modifications are allowed for gun owners.
In this article, we will examine whether the most recent decision made by the Supreme Court is in opposition to any state laws, specifically one that is scheduled to be implemented on July 1. 3 On Your Side delves into this issue to provide a comprehensive analysis.
In 2018, a federal ban on bump stocks was implemented as a direct response to the mass shooting that occurred at a Las Vegas music festival the year before. The regulation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) classified firearms with bump stocks as machine guns. However, last week, the United States Supreme Court struck down this ban.
According to Christopher Green, Jamie L. Whitten Chair in Law & Government at the University of Mississippi School of Law, there are no Second Amendment or preemption issues involved in this case. As a result, the states have the freedom to make their own decisions given the federal government’s inability to regulate.
Mississippi legislators have recently approved a bill that makes it a crime to produce, possess, or use “machine gun conversion devices.”
Sen. Joey Fillingane, who was part of the conference committee responsible for crafting the language of the bill, claims that it was designed to specifically target Glock switches. However, the question remains whether this will also have an impact on bump stocks.
According to Fillingane, the difference lies in the fact that if pulling the trigger once results in firing multiple shots, it is classified as a machine gun and therefore prohibited by law. “Basically, the distinction is, when you pull the trigger one time if more than one shot is fired with just the single pull, then that is what we outlaw. That’s considered a machine gun,” explained Fillingane.
The National Rifle Association played a significant role in developing the aforementioned language.
According to Fillingane, the language used in the draft was a result of close collaboration between them and the concerned parties. He further added that if the language had been too restrictive and prohibited bump stocks, it would have raised concerns. This was an ongoing discussion that was being held between them.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America expressed their satisfaction with the ban on Glock switches. However, they added the following statement.
According to Patricia Ice, the Be SMART Lead for the Jackson chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the legislation should have been more comprehensive considering the high rate of gun violence in Jackson and throughout Mississippi. She emphasized the need to take every possible step to prevent gun violence in the state and welcomed any legislation that could help achieve this objective.
The Supreme Court’s decision has brought the bump stock issue into the limelight, and Congress is taking notice. However, despite efforts to ban these devices, the legislation faced a roadblock in the US Senate on Wednesday.
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