This is why we can't have nice things. Part 1. [View all]

[flamin lib]

I actually believe that the ATF is working for the gun industry. They are charged with defining the things that make guns (and explosives) easily available to the public at large. This is done with entries into the ATF Handbook, not by legislation. The Handbook defines Machine Gun thus:

“For the purposes of the National Firearms Act the term Machinegun means:
Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger
​
The frame or receiver of any such weapon
​
Any part designed and intended solely and exclusively or combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, or
 
Any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.”

Until recently, using this definition, this is a machine gun:

And this is not:

Notice the difference? Yeah, me neither. The 'difference' is that the Bump Stock uses springs and mechanics to allow the trigger to re-set meaning that the gun fires one bullet for one trigger pull. The Bump Stock allows the shooter to pull the trigger up too 600 times a minute. But it's not a machine gun, right?

Under pressure from the Trump administration (even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then) the ATF re-wrote the definition to classify a Bump Stock as a gun bringing it under the jurisdiction of the ATF. Note that they did not change the definition of Machinegun, only reclassified the Bump Stock as a gun.

It is these arcane bits of minutia that allows the gun industry to thwart the intent of any legislation to restrict firearms. How long do you think it will take for the gun nuts to find a work around to achieve the same function that skirts the ATF handbook and thus legislation?

The entire structure of gun governance needs to be seriously considered and overhauled. The actual functionality of guns needs to be the basis of legislation, not some arcane entry into the ATF handbook made by clerical staff without oversight.

This epidemic has no vaccine. It is up to you and me to make these changes. Support an anti gun violence organization of your choice. Give money, join, attend meetings and add to their voice. Lives depend on it.

Part 2 and 3 coming soon.