ATF Removes Bump Stock Definition From Machine Gun Regulations

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is updating its regulations to match a 2024 Supreme Court ruling. The Court decided that a semiautomatic rifle fitted with a bump stock does not qualify as a “machine gun” under federal law. The Court found that bump stocks do not fire multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger, nor do they fire automatically.

Why it matters: This is primarily an administrative update. The Supreme Court already invalidated ATF’s 2018 attempt to ban bump stocks by redefining them as machine guns. This rule simply cleans up the regulatory text so it matches the Court’s decision. It does not create new restrictions or grant new permissions. It ensures the regulations accurately reflect current federal law.

Who it affects

• Owners and sellers of bump stock devices, who will no longer be required to register them or pay taxes under the machine gun category

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This final rule was published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in the Federal Register; readers should check the original document before relying on it for compliance purposes.

Agency: Justice Department, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau
Source: Federal Register — read the official document