WASHINGTON (trfnews.i234.me) – On Tuesday, Senate Republicans blocked bipartisan legislation that aimed to ban bump stocks, following a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down a prior ban on the rapid-fire gun accessory used in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Democrats, led by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), attempted to force a voice vote on the bill. The proposed legislation sought to ban the sale of bump stocks, similar to the rule implemented by President Trump’s administration after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting where a gunman used semiautomatic rifles equipped with bump stocks to kill 58 people and injure over 850.
“I refuse to stand idly by and wait for the next mass shooting,” Heinrich declared, emphasizing that bump stocks serve no legitimate purpose.
Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) objected on behalf of the Republicans, preventing an immediate vote. He labeled the bill as a “gun grabbing overreach” that could extend beyond bump stocks to other gun accessories. Ricketts defended his stance by asserting, “This bill will not pass because enough people in this building still believe in the Constitution, and the Constitution affords Americans the right to own a firearm.”
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision, authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, ruled that the Justice Department incorrectly classified bump stocks as illegal machine guns since each trigger pull still only releases one shot.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that the push for this legislation is part of a broader election-year strategy to address key Democratic priorities, even if the bills face certain defeat. Republicans have accused Democrats of using these issues for political gain rather than genuine bipartisan efforts.