
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The issue of bump stocks is very simple. It is illegal to own a fully automatic gun – a gun that releases a full magazine with one pull on the trigger. With a semi-automatic weapon, each bullet requires a separate pull on the trigger.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As we have tragically seen too many times, semi-automatic guns can fire a lot of rounds in a very short time – but not nearly as many as one equipped with a bump stock. It turns a legal semi-automatic weapon into an illegal fully automatic weapon. That should be illegal – and that should be obvious despite technical differences and legalese.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Recently –and to the consternation from anti-gun folks – the Supreme Court declared that President Trump’s action to make bump stocks illegal was unconstitutional. ; ; ; Even though they should be illegal in my judgment, the Supreme Court decision was the correct one.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Making bump stocks illegal is the role of the Congress – with the role of the President to either sign or veto the legislation. ; An executive order from the President is a usurpation of the powers of Congress. ; It is an authoritarian act.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the essential roles of the Supreme Court is to maintain the critical balance of power between the three branches of government – AND, incidentally, to prevent bureaucratic abuses of power through excessive and inappropriate rulemaking (legislating). ; (Actually, the Supreme Court is considering a case dealing with bureaucratic regulatory abuse. ; But that is for another commentary &#8230; and I digress.)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ironically, President Biden claims to be a defender of democracy despite the fact that he is among the greatest users – abusers &#8212; of authoritarian executive orders to improperly assume legislative powers. ; In fact, he often admits that he uses executive orders when Congress does not pass the laws he wants.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Lack of action by Congress is not a green light for the President to enact laws by edict. The Supreme Court is doing its job when it defends the role of Congress. Unfortunately, it is not doing it enough. Bump stocks should be outlawed – BUT it is up to Congress to do it.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Supreme Court ruled correctly on bump stocks … even though they should be banned
