In the wake of recent shootings, lawmakers continue to discuss what new measures can be taken to prevent more mass shootings and appease gun advocates.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is expected to announce a compromised measure that could pass both the House and Senate.
After the 1 October mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada Rep. Dina Titus introduced a bill to ban bump stocks, which were used by the shooter.
"After the shooting, I introduced a bill to ban bump stocks. The ATF put in place a regulation banning bump stocks. The NRA immediately filed a suit saying the agency did not have the right to outlaw bump stocks. The court upheld the NRA and struck down the regulation," Titus said. "It was appealed and the appeals court overturned the lower court and kept the regulation in place. So today, bump stocks are illegal.”
However, Titus said there’s a movement to once again appeal this regulation to the overwhelmingly conservative Supreme Court.
The strategy now is to prevent another appeal by taking it out of regulation and protecting it with legislation.
This measure, the Bump Stock Loophole Act, was part of the greater package, the Protecting Our Kids Act. It passed in the House this past week and now awaits its fate in the Senate.
