History of Bump stock in Timeline
Bump stocks, also known as bump fire stocks, are accessories for firearms that facilitate bump firing. Bump firing is a technique utilizing a semi-automatic firearm's recoil to discharge rounds in rapid succession, effectively mimicking automatic fire.
1986: Hughes Amendment and Bump Stock Ban
The final rule on bump stocks referenced the Hughes Amendment, which, with limited exceptions, made it illegal to transfer or possess a machinegun not lawfully owned before 1986.
1990: California Bans Bump Stock Sales
California became the first state to make the sale of bump stocks illegal in 1990.
2002: Akins Accelerator Initially Deemed Not a "Machinegun"
An early bump stock-like device, the Akins Accelerator, was initially found by the ATF not to be a "machinegun" in 2002.
2006: ATF Reinterprets "Single Function of the Trigger"
In 2006, the ATF reinterpreted the phrase "single function of the trigger" to mean "single pull of the trigger," resulting in the reclassification of the Akins Accelerator as a machinegun.
2008: ATF Issues Rulings Classifying Bump Stocks as Firearm Parts
Between 2008 and 2017, the ATF issued ten letter rulings classifying bump stocks as unregulated "firearm parts."
February 2009: Court Upholds ATF's Reinterpretation
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ATF's reinterpretation of "single function of the trigger" in February 2009.
2010: ATF Rules Bump Stocks Not Subject to Regulation
In 2010, the ATF ruled that bump stocks were not firearms and did not require regulation, allowing their sale as unregulated firearm parts.
2013: New York Bans Bump Stocks
New York outlawed bump stocks in 2013 with the passage of the NY SAFE Act.
2014: Slide Fire Solutions Sues Bump Fire Systems for Patent Infringement
Slide Fire Solutions initiated legal action against Bump Fire Systems in 2014, alleging infringement of its patents related to bump stock designs. The lawsuit claimed Bump Fire Systems infringed on eight US Patents, including designs for accelerating the cyclic firing rate of semi-automatic firearms.
2016: Slide Fire Solutions and Bump Fire Systems Settle Patent Dispute
The patent infringement lawsuit between Slide Fire Solutions and Bump Fire Systems reached a settlement in 2016. As part of the agreement, Bump Fire Systems ceased production of the disputed product.
October 2017: NRA Calls for Review of Bump Stock Legality
Following the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, where twelve bump stocks were found at the scene, the National Rifle Association called on regulators to review the legality of devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully automatic rifles.
2017: Las Vegas Shooting Survivors Sue Bump Stock Manufacturer
Following the tragic 2017 Las Vegas shooting, survivors filed a lawsuit against Slide Fire Solutions, the patent holder and manufacturer of the bump stock used in the incident. The lawsuit alleged negligence on the part of the company and claimed they intentionally sought to circumvent U.S. laws governing automatic weapons.
2017: Public Support for Bump Stock Ban Following Las Vegas Shooting
Immediately after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, 72% of registered voters expressed support for a bump stock ban.
2017: Massachusetts Bans Bump Stocks
Massachusetts implemented a ban on bump stocks after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
2017: Las Vegas Shooting Raises Questions About Bump Stock Legality
The legality of bump stocks in the United States was questioned following the tragic 2017 Las Vegas shooting, where the gunman used bump stocks, resulting in 60 fatalities and 869 injuries.
2017: Las Vegas Shooting Prompts Calls for Bump Stock Ban
The use of bump stocks in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting led to widespread calls for their ban.
January 2018: New Jersey Bans Bump Stocks
Outgoing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed legislation banning bump stocks in the state on his final day in office in January 2018.
February 2018: President Trump Directs ATF to Regulate Bump Stocks
On February 20, 2018, President Trump instructed the ATF to issue regulations classifying bump stocks as machineguns.
March 2018: DOJ Announces Plan to Ban Bump Stocks
At the request of President Trump, the Department of Justice announced its plan to ban bump stocks at the federal level in March 2018.
March 2018: Florida Enacts SB 7026 Banning Bump Stocks
In March 2018, in response to the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Florida passed SB 7026, banning bump stocks among other provisions.
April 2018: Northbrook, Illinois Bans Bump Stocks
In April 2018, Northbrook, Illinois, implemented a local ban on bump stocks.
May 2018: Boulder, Colorado Bans Bump Stocks
Boulder, Colorado, enacted a local ban on bump stocks in May 2018.
May 2018: Slide Fire Solutions Ceases Bump Stock Production
Slide Fire Solutions permanently ended sales and production of bump stocks in May 2018, 95 days after the Parkland high school shooting.
June 2018: Maryland Shall Issue Files Lawsuit Against Maryland's Ban on Rapid-Fire Trigger Activators
Maryland Shall Issue, a gun rights group, filed a putative class action lawsuit in June 2018 in a Maryland federal district court, challenging Maryland Senate Bill 707, which banned "rapid-fire trigger activators." They argued that the ban was an unconstitutional taking.
September 2018: Lawsuit Against Slide Fire Solutions Dismissed
In September 2018, the lawsuit against Slide Fire Solutions was dismissed. The court determined that the bump stocks used in the Las Vegas shooting were categorized as "firearm components" rather than "firearm accessories." As a result, they fell under the protection of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which shields manufacturers and sellers of firearms from liability for harm caused by individuals who misuse their products.
October 2018: Florida Bans Bump Stocks
Florida implemented a ban on bump stocks in October 2018.
October 2018: Bump Stock Ban Takes Effect in Florida and Vermont
The ban on bump stocks in Florida, making possession a third-degree felony, went into effect in October 2018. Vermont also enacted a similar law, classifying possession as a misdemeanor, that became effective in the same month.
November 2018: District Court Dismisses Maryland Shall Issue's Lawsuit
The federal district court in Maryland dismissed Maryland Shall Issue's lawsuit against the state's ban on "rapid-fire trigger activators" in November 2018.
December 2018: Gun Owners of America Sue Federal Government Over Bump Stock Ban
Gun Owners of America initiated a lawsuit against the federal government in December 2018, challenging the federal bump stock ban in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
December 2018: ATF Classifies Bump Stocks as "Machine Guns"
In December 2018, the ATF published a rule classifying bump stocks as "machine guns," effectively making them illegal under federal law.
December 2018: DOJ Issues Final Rule Banning Bump Stocks
The Department of Justice issued the final rule to ban bump stocks on December 18, 2018.
December 2018: Final Rule Banning Bump Stocks Issued
The final regulation banning bump stocks was issued by the Department of Justice on December 18, 2018, and published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2018.
2018: Bump Stock Availability and Pricing
By 2018, bump fire stocks were available in the United States for around $100 or more, with prices rising before federal regulation came into effect.
2018: Polls Show Continued Support for Bump Stock Ban
In 2018, polls indicated continued strong public support for banning bump stocks, with one poll showing 81% support and another showing 56% support.
February 2019: Firearms Policy Coalition's Injunction Request Denied in Bump Stock Case
In February 2019, U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich rejected a request for an injunction by the Firearms Policy Coalition against the bump stock ban, stating that the group didn't present strong enough legal grounds to deem the ban invalid.
March 2019: States Take Action on Bump Stocks Before Federal Ban
Before the federal ban took effect on March 26, 2019, several states, including California and New York, had already implemented their own restrictions on bump stock ownership.
March 2019: Court Denies Preliminary Injunction Against Bump Stock Ban
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan denied Gun Owners of America's request for a preliminary injunction against the bump stock ban on March 21, 2019.
March 2019: Bump Stock Ban Takes Effect
The federal ban on bump stocks went into effect on March 26, 2019, requiring owners to destroy or surrender them to the ATF.
March 2019: Utah Gun Rights Group Sues ATF Over Bump Stock Ban
W. Clark Aposhian, representing the Utah Shooting Sports Council, filed a lawsuit against the ATF in March 2019 in a Utah federal district court, challenging the ATF's authority to implement the bump stock ban.
April 2019: D.C. Circuit Affirms Denial of Preliminary Injunction in Bump Stock Case
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, in a per curiam decision, upheld the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction against the bump stock ban on April 1, 2019, allowing the ban to take effect.
April 2019: Tenth Circuit Upholds Denial of Preliminary Injunction in Utah Bump Stock Case
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld, with a divided panel, the lower court's decision to deny a preliminary injunction blocking the bump stock ban in April 2019.
May 2019: Class Action Lawsuit Challenging Florida Bump Stock Ban Fails in Circuit Court
A class action lawsuit arguing that the Florida bump stock ban constituted an unconstitutional taking requiring fair compensation was unsuccessful in the Leon County circuit court in May 2019.
May 2019: UK Bans Bump Stocks
The Offensive Weapons Act 2019, which outlawed bump stocks in the UK, was enacted in May 2019.
2019: Texas Gun Rights Activist Sues ATF Over Bump Stock Ban
Michael Cargill, a gun rights activist from Austin, Texas, filed a lawsuit in 2019 against the ATF in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, challenging the agency's classification of bump stocks as illegal machine guns.
March 2020: Supreme Court Declines Review of Bump Stock Ban Case, Gorsuch Criticizes Chevron Deference
On March 2, 2020, the Supreme Court chose not to review the bump stock ban case. Justice Gorsuch, while agreeing it wasn't the right time for Supreme Court involvement, criticized the D.C. Circuit's stance and questioned the use of Chevron deference in this instance.
June 2020: Class Action Lawsuit Seeking Immunity for Bump Stock Purchasers Denied
In June 2020, a class action lawsuit seeking immunity for individuals who legally bought bump stocks before the ATF rule change was dismissed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
June 2020: Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Maryland Bump Stock Ban Lawsuit
In a 2-1 decision in June 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the lower court's dismissal of the lawsuit filed by Maryland Shall Issue against the state's ban on "rapid-fire trigger activators."
November 2020: District Court Dismisses Cargill's Bump Stock Lawsuit
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas dismissed Michael Cargill's lawsuit against the ATF's bump stock ban in November 2020.
December 2020: Oral Argument in Gun Owners of America Bump Stock Case
The Sixth Circuit heard oral arguments in December 2020 regarding the bump stock ban challenged by Gun Owners of America.
January 2021: Florida Bump Stock Ban Upheld by Court of Appeal
The 1st District Court of Appeal upheld the Florida bump stock ban in January 2021.
February 2021: District Court Grants Summary Judgment in Favor of Government in Bump Stock Case
The federal district court in Washington, D.C., ruled in favor of the government in February 2021, concluding that the ATF had the authority to classify bump stocks as machine guns and that the ban did not violate the Takings Clause or ex post facto clause.
March 2021: Sixth Circuit Rules in Favor of Plaintiffs in Bump Stock Case
On March 25, 2021, a Sixth Circuit panel ruled 2-1 in favor of the plaintiffs, concluding that bump stocks are not machine guns, and the ATF's rule is not the best interpretation of the law.
May 2021: Supreme Court Declines to Hear Maryland Bump Stock Ban Case
The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of the Maryland bump stock ban case in May 2021, leaving the Fourth Circuit's decision in place.
June 2021: Sixth Circuit Grants En Banc Petition in Bump Stock Case
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals granted an en banc petition on June 25, 2021, agreeing to rehear the bump stock case.
September 2021: Navy-Marine Corps Court Rules Bump Stocks Are Not Machineguns
On September 7, 2021, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that bump stocks do not meet the definition of a machine gun. The government did not appeal the ruling.
October 2021: Sixth Circuit Hears Oral Argument in Bump Stock Ban Case
The Sixth Circuit heard oral arguments in October 2021 after granting an en banc rehearing of the bump stock case.
December 2021: Fifth Circuit Upholds Bump Stock Ban
A unanimous three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the ATF's bump stock ban on December 14, 2021.
December 2021: Sixth Circuit Issues Split Decision, Upholding District Court's Denial of Injunction
On December 3, 2021, the Sixth Circuit issued an 8-8 split decision, effectively upholding the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction in the bump stock case.
June 2022: Fifth Circuit Vacates Decision and Takes Bump Stock Case En Banc
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated its previous decision on the bump stock ban and agreed to an en banc rehearing of the case on June 23, 2022.
August 2022: D.C. Circuit Upholds Bump Stock Ban
On August 9, 2022, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the bump stock ban, reasoning that it was the best interpretation of the law without relying on Chevron deference.
September 2022: Fifth Circuit Hears Oral Argument in Bump Stock Ban Case
Oral arguments in the bump stock ban case were heard by the full panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on September 12, 2022.
October 2022: Supreme Court Declines to Hear Utah Bump Stock Ban Case
On October 3, 2022, the Supreme Court decided not to hear the appeal in the bump stock case from Utah, leaving the Tenth Circuit's decision to uphold the ban in place.
October 2022: Bump Stock Ban Upheld by Federal Circuit Court
On October 31, 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the ban on bump stocks.
January 2023: Sixth Circuit Hears Arguments in Kentucky Bump Stock Case
On January 19, 2023, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in a case challenging the bump stock ban originating from the Western District of Kentucky.
January 2023: Fifth Circuit Rules Bump Stocks Are Not Machine Guns
On January 6, 2023, the full panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that bump stocks do not meet the definition of machine guns, overturning the lower court's decision and striking down the ban.
April 2023: Sixth Circuit Rules Bump Stocks Are Not Machine Guns
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on April 25, 2023, that bump stocks should not be classified as machine guns.
May 2023: D.C. Circuit Denies En Banc Rehearing in Bump Stock Case
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a petition for an en banc rehearing on May 2, 2023, letting the panel's decision to uphold the bump stock ban stand.
September 2023: District Court Upholds Bump Stock Rule
The district court in Utah upheld the bump stock rule in September 2023, citing Chevron deference in its decision.
June 14, 2024: Supreme Court Strikes Down Bump Stock Ban
The U.S. Supreme Court, in the case of Garland v. Cargill, struck down the federal regulation that effectively banned bump stocks on June 14, 2024.
2024: Supreme Court Overturns ATF Bump Stock Regulation
The Supreme Court, in 2024, struck down the ATF's regulation that classified bump stocks as "machine guns" in the case of Garland v. Cargill.
