‘Bump stocks’ ban mulled

Device used in Las Vegas attack increases semi-automatic fire rate

Momentum is building for a nationwide ban on “bump stocks” — devices that can increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons — as the National Rifle Association, the White House, Congress and, locally, Gov. Charlie Baker all expressed willingness to consider the crackdown.

“The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations,” the organization said in a statement yesterday.

While the call surprised many given the NRA’s reluctance to endorse previous reforms after mass-shooting tragedies, the group also called on Congress to pass legislation requiring states to recognize other states’ concealed carry permits, suggesting they may use the bump stock proposal as bargaining.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 2010 ruled that the bump stock is a “firearm part” that didn’t violate federal law.

But after bump stocks were found among the arsenal amassed by Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, a ban seems more likely. House Speaker Paul Ryan told MSNBC it’s “clearly something we need to look into.”

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, moments after the NRA statement was released, told reporters, “It’s something we’re very open to.”

In Massachusetts, Baker gave the green light for a state ban.

“Look, that should be outlawed,” the governor said. “And if that were to pass tomorrow, we would sign it.”

Baker said the state has some of the “best gun laws in the country,” but added: “There’s always room for improvement.”

Craig Baenziger, a manager at Northeast Trading Company in North Attleboro, told the Herald that bump stocks could easily be handmade out of PVC and that his shop has never sold them.

“There’s not a lot of demand for it because of how they work. They make the gun pretty uncontrollable,” said Baenziger.

“Rapid fire like that quickly ruins the barrel of the firearm and reduces the useful life of it.”

AP PHOTO GUN MODS: Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, attaches a ‘bump stock’ to a semi-automatic rifle at the Gun Vault store and shooting range Wednesday in South Jordan, Utah.

NEWSCOM PHOTO, ABOVE; RIGHT, AP PHOTO DEADLY ADDITION: The Las Vegas gunman, above, Stephen Paddock, had bump stocks in his arsenal. Right, an AK-47 round is displayed.