Florida lawmaker proposes statewide ban on ‘bump stocks’

A Democratic lawmaker in Florida has proposed a statewide ban on bump stocks, the device law enforcement authorities said the killer in the Las Vegas massacre used to modify a semi-automatic weapon by giving it the rapid firing power of an automatic weapon.

Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, filed the bill (SB 456) on Monday. The measure would make it a third-degree felony for anyone to “transfer, distribute, transport, sell, keep for sale, offer or expose for sale, or give a bump fire stock to another person.”

Stewart’s bill also would have retroactive effect in Florida. It says that a person who currently owns bump stocks “may” turn them over to law enforcement agency, and it not, the owner “must destroy and render inoperable the device.” A violation is a third-degree felony.

The National Rifle Association has said it is open to regulation of bump stocks through administrative action, but does not support legislation to ban the devices.

This story was originally published October 9, 2017 at 11:43 AM with the headline "Florida lawmaker proposes statewide ban on ‘bump stocks’."