Weekly Wrap: Supreme Court Rejects Bump Stock Cases By: Jacki Billings, Editor-In-Chief

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So, keep reading for this week’s notable news headlines…

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Supreme Court Declines to Hear Bump Stock Ban Case

Supreme Court justices say they won’t hear two cases related to the bump stock ban, declining to take either case on Monday.

The cases stem from separate lawsuits – one from a Utah gun rights activist and the other filed by the Gun Owners of America challenging the 2019 ban.  

U.S. Supreme Court

As is typical for the court, the justices offered no comments or opinions on why they would not take up the cases.

Bump stocks are gun stocks that can be fitted onto firearms that allow for bump firing – a style of shooting in which one can use the recoil of a firearm to fire more rapidly.

It’s worth noting that bump stocks do not permit the firearm to fire more than one round at a time but simply cause the gun to fire rounds in more rapid succession.  

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives visited the issue of bump stocks in 2010, determining that bump stocks did not meet the classification of “machineguns.”

(Photo: ATF)

However, the Bureau made an about-face after a mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas left 60 people dead and more than 850 injured.

Upon investigation, officials discovered the shooter used rifles equipped with bump stocks to fire over 1,000 rounds at the crowd of concertgoers.  

Former President Trump asked the Bureau to revisit the issue of bump stocks after the shooting, and upon reconsideration, the ATF reclassified the accessories as “machineguns.”

This reclassification effectively banned the devices under the National Firearms Act.

At that time, the Supreme Court declined to block the ban from taking effect.

Judge Dismisses Mexican Gov’t $10B Lawsuit Against Gun Makers

A $10 billion lawsuit lodged by the Mexican government against U.S. gun makers was officially tossed out of federal court last week.

In the lawsuit, the Mexican government alleged U.S. gun manufacturers undermined Mexico’s gun laws by designing, marketing, and trafficking “military-style assault weapons” that could be used by drug cartels.

Glock 19 Gen 5, Stock
Glock 19 Gen 5, Stock

Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor dismissed the case against Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Barrett, Beretta, Colt, and Glock.

In a 44-page decision, Saylor pointed to federal law that prevents lawsuits against gun companies when products are used as intended – otherwise known as the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

“While the court has considerable sympathy for the people of Mexico, and none whatsoever for those who traffic guns to Mexican criminal organizations, it is duty-bound to follow the law,” Saylor wrote.

Mexico estimated that over 2% of guns made in the U.S. were smuggled into the country. Mexico ranks third in the world for gun-related deaths, following Brazil and the U.S.

Ruger PCC studio
Ruger PC Carbine

Mexico has said it intends to appeal the decision.

“This suit by the Mexican government has received worldwide recognition and has been considered a turning point in the discussion around the gun industry’s responsibility for the violence experience in Mexico and the region,” Mexico’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The gun makers at the center of the suit have not released any comments regarding the dismissal but the National Shooting Sports Foundation applauded the court’s decision.  

“Like the court, we sympathize with the plight of the Mexican people and the criminal violence involving illegal firearms they have endured,” the NSSF said in a blog post.

“However, the crime that is devastating the people of Mexico is not the fault of members of the firearm industry, that under U.S. law, can only sell their lawful products to Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights after passing a background check.”

Australian Military Chooses Sig for Pistols, PDWs

The Australian Defence Force is making the move to Sig Sauer, adopting the P320 XCarry Pro and MCX.

(Photo: SGT Tristan Kennedy)

The P320 XCarry Pro will replace the Browning Hi-Power Mk3s and will come with reflex sights and a light.

Meanwhile, the MCX will be of the .300 Blackout variety and will serve as the PDW for service members.

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In addition to new Sig wares, the ADF will also add the 12-gauge Benelli M3A1 and the .50 cal Barrett M107A1 to its arsenal.

Sig Sauer MCX (Photo: SGT Tristan Kennedy)

Rounding out the new weapons, Australian service members will also get a double-edged fighting knife from ZU Bladeworx.

The new weapons systems are part of a $500 million LAND 159 Lethality Project supplying Australian military members with new pistols, shotguns, sniper rifles, personal defense weapons, and knives.

(Photo: SGT Tristan Kennedy)

“This is a bold step into modern weaponry to quickly improve Australia’s defence preparedness,” Major General Andrew Bottrell, Head Land Systems, said in a press release.

“The collaboration between Defence and industry means we will acquire the best available weapon systems for our troops.”

What do you think of the headlines above? Let us know in the comments. Also, catch up on other Weekly Wraps or news in our News Category.