Schumer planning bump stock ban vote

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is planning to hold a vote on legislation to ban gun bump stocks this week, after the Supreme Court invalidated the Trump-era ban.

“The Senate can help restore this public safety rule, and next week, it will try. As majority leader, I have the ability to allow a unanimous consent vote, and we’ll see just what Republican MAGAs do: Will they allow it to go forward, or will they cower to MAGA and hurt the American people?” Schumer said in a Sunday press conference, shared by CBS News.

The Supreme Court last week invalidated the national ban on bump stocks, which can convert semiautomatic weapons to ones capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. The Trump administration issued a final rule prohibiting bump stocks in 2018 following the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, which was the deadliest in U.S. history.

Following the decision, Schumer called on Congress to pass a bill that would counter the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling. He said the “only way to permanently close this loophole is through legislation.”

“Bump stocks have played a devastating role in many of the horrific mass shootings in our country, but sadly it’s no surprise to see the Supreme Court roll back this necessary public safety rule as they push their out of touch extreme agenda. They’re even further to the right of Donald Trump,” Schumer said.

President Biden said he would sign a bill banning gun bump stocks “immediately” if Congress passed one.

“Today’s decision strikes down an important gun safety regulation. Americans should not have to live in fear of this mass devastation,” Biden said in a statement after the Supreme Court ruling.