Trump Urges Justice Dept. to Ban Bump Stocks

Department says it's moving quickly with its review of the controversial devices
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 20, 2018 6:40 PM CST
Trump Urges Justice Dept. to Ban Bump Stocks
President Donald Trump speaks during the Public Safety Medal of Valor awards ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The Justice Department says it is moving quickly with its review of "bump stock" devices after President Donald Trump directed the agency to propose regulations banning them, the AP reports. The devices allow semi-automatic rifles to fire faster and were used in last year's Las Vegas massacre. The Justice Department in December announced it was reviewing whether bump stocks are prohibited under federal law banning fully automatic weapons. The department said Tuesday it "understands this is a priority for the president and has acted quickly to move through the rulemaking process."

Trump said Tuesday that he has signed a memo directing the Justice Department to propose regulations to "ban all devices" like the rapid-fire bump stocks. Seeking to show action days after a deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Trump spoke during a White House ceremony recognizing bravery by the nation's public safety officers. "We must move past clichés and tired debates and focus on evidence based solutions and security measures that actually work," Trump said. White House officials say the president will be meeting with students, teachers and state and local officials to discuss ways of providing more school safety and address gun violence. Pressure has been mounting for action after the Parkland shooting.

(More President Trump stories.)

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