NEWTOWN, Conn. – The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal regulation in a 6-3 ruling prohibiting ownership of bump stocks, a type of semi-automatic rifle accessory that enables the shooter to fire rapidly, simulating fully automatic fire. This type of accessory was responsible for killing 60 people during the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting – the deadliest mass shooting in American history – and was banned by the Trump administration in 2018 with wide bipartisan support.
Over the years, multiple surveys and polls have indicated that a majority of Americans are in favor of banning bump stocks. The Supreme Court’s decision to reverse the ban was based on a legal challenge which argued these accessories were misclassified by the Justice Department as illegal machine guns.
“We’re incredibly disappointed by this decision that rolls back the bipartisan progress to make firearms a little less lethal as our nation continues to face increasing rates of gun violence,” said Lauren Levin, chief advocacy officer at Sandy Hook Promise. “We were proud to work with the Trump administration on this example of common-sense bipartisan gun safety policy – and know that widespread support for banning bump stocks still exists. We call on Republicans and Democrats alike to come back together and take action to prohibit these firearm accessories and protect our children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities.”
In an increasingly divided nation, bipartisan solutions like these are more important than ever to protect children from gun violence. The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) also worked alongside the Trump administration to pass the STOP School Violence Act, making an unprecedented federal investment in school violence prevention. Later, the SHPAF worked with the Biden administration and bipartisan leaders in Congress to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant piece of gun safety legislation in 30 years. SHP is eager to see the continued implementation of this bipartisan will of Congress.
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The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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