Texas manufacturer of 'bump stocks' halts new sales

Texas manufacturer of 'bump stocks' halts new sales

Demand is overwhelming as calls for ban surge, manufacturer says

By Alejandra Matos

October 5, 2017 Updated: October 5, 2017 8:27pm

A 'bump stock' device fits on a semi-automatic rifle to make it fire like a fully automatic weapon.

AUSTIN - The Texas-based manufacturer of "bump stocks," the accessory used to provide a deadly boost to the gunfire in the Las Vegas massacre, temporarily has suspended its online sales due to overwhelming demand as calls to limit - or possibly ban - the devices grow stronger.

Before a dinner with senior military leaders Thursday, President Donald Trump told reporters his administration is considering whether "bump stock" devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to perform more like fully automatic weapons should be banned.

"We'll be looking into that over the next short period of time," he said.
Slide Fire, based in Moran, 40 miles east of Abilene, posted a notice on its website that it was no longer taking orders "to provide the best service with those already placed." The company is the largest producer of the device.

Bump Fire Systems, also in Moran and operated by the same owners as Slide Fire, also posted on its website that it was temporarily halting orders "due to extremely high demands."

Law enforcement officials said Stephen Paddock used several weapons equipped with the bump stocks to unleash a barrage of bullets into a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay.
NRA confers with feds

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The bump stocks use the force of the gun's recoil to allow the gun to bounce off the shooter's trigger finger.
The modification allows a semi-automatic weapon to fire rounds at a rate that resembles that of an automatic weapon.
On Thursday, the National Rifle Association called on the federal government to review whether the bump stocks comply with law.
In a statement, the NRA said the device should be "subject to additional regulations."
Democratic strategists were quick to contend the NRA is maneuvering to have Trump attempt to deal with the issue administratively through federal agencies rather than supporting action in Congress, where gun control advocates are eager to try to pass additional restrictions beyond those dealing with bump stocks.

Some top Republicans in Congress, including House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, have said they are open to considering a ban on the device, which costs about $200.

In Congress, support for a bump stock ban is starting to coalesce around several bills.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., unveiled a bill Wednesday that would ban the manufacture, sale and transfer of bump stocks and other accessories that can accelerate a semi-automatic rifle's rate of fire.