WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice formally submitted a regulation on Saturday to ban “bump stocks,” a modification to high-capacity rifles that lets them fire like an automatic weapon.

President Donald Trump signed a memorandum in February directing the department to make the regulatory change, which must now be approved by the Office of Management and Budget before it is published and subject to a commentary period.

The move does not require congressional approval, allowing the administration to side-step what could have been insurmountable pressure from pro-gun groups such as the National Rifle Association that have worked to erode changes in firearm laws in the wake of mass shootings in Florida and Nevada.

The NRA supported more regulations on bump stocks but has not endorsed Trump’s ban and said previously it was awaiting the publication of the regulation before rendering judgment.

The NRA could not immediately be reached for comment.

Shooter Stephen Paddock was in possession of a “bump stock” after a shooting rampage in Las Vegas in October 2017 that left 58 people dead and more than 850 injured.</s>WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Justice formally submitted a regulation on Saturday to ban “bump stocks,” a modification to high-capacity rifles that lets them fire like an automatic weapon.</s>The Justice Department filed a proposal to ban bump stocks Saturday, following an order from President Trump. Bump stocks are devices that modify semi-automatic rifles, allowing them to fire as quickly as fully automatic weapons.

After last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Trump vowed to “writ[e] out” bump stocks and directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to propose a ban on them. Machine guns have already been banned for sale since 1986, and similarly outlawing bump stocks would close a loophole by which the public has been able to buy legal semi-automatic weapons and turn them into guns akin to banned machine guns. According to The Associated Press:

Bump stocks first attracted national attention after last year’s mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas. The shooter in the attack, which killed 58 people and injured more than 800 more, had a dozen bump stocks in his arsenal.</s>Justice Department moves to officially ban bump stocks, classifies them as ‘machine guns’

The Department of Justice on Saturday submitted regulation to formally ban the devices, which modify semi-automatic rifles to fire like a fully-automatic rifle. The devices were used in the Las Vegas massacre last October, which left nearly five dozen dead and more than 800 others injured.

The DOJ announced Saturday it had submitted its proposed regulation to the Office of Management and Budget, which must approve the regulation before it is enforced, according to Reuters.

The proposed regulation defines bump stocks as “machine guns” and seeks to have them outlawed under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act. If the regulation is approved, bump stocks will be illegal to buy, sell, possess and manufacture.

The regulation does not need congressional approval and was expected after President Donald Trump directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to ban the devices last month.

However, it reverses a 2010 decision by the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that found bump stocks did not fall under the National Firearm Act’s definition of a “machine gun” and therefore could only be regulated if Congress amended the NFAGCA’s definition of “machine gun.”. – READ MORE</s>The US Department of Justice has submitted a regulation that would ban so-called bump stocks, a type of gun modification that increases the rate of fire for semi-automatic rifles.

The proposal, submitted on Saturday, comes after President Donald Trump announced last month that he was in favour of the ban following a mass shooting in Florida.

"President Trump is absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of every American and he has directed us to propose a regulation addressing bump stocks," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

"To that end, the Department of Justice has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a notice of a proposed regulation to clarify that the National Firearms and Gun Control Act defines "machine gun" to include bump stock type devices," he added.

Under US law, machine guns are officially banned. However, semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 are legal because of their lower rate of fire.

Bump stocks use the recoil of the semi-automatic rifle to allow the weapon to fire at a higher rate, effectively turning a semi-automatic into a machine gun.

Saturday's proposal would classify bump stocks as part of a "machine gun", making it illegal to buy or sell them.

The proposal must still be approved by the Office of Management and Budget before it is published and subject to a commentary period. It does not, however, require approval from Congress, where it may have faced opposition due the pro-gun ownership lobby's power.

Bump stocks were heavily criticised last October after one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history.

The gunman, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, used the modifications to increase his rate of fire, allowing him to kill 58 people at a concert in Las Vegas.

Although Trump announced in October he would be in favour of the ban, no proposal was ever introduced.

The discussion again gained momentum after a gunman opened fire on a Florida high school last month, killing 17 people.

Bump stocks were not used during the Florida shooting, but calls, led by students, for stricter gun control have been heard nationwide.

After February's shooting, Trump said he supported a ban on bump stocks, as well as potentially arming teachers - a proposal that has been criticised by many students and teachers.

On Thursday, state legislators in Florida passed a bill that, among other things, banned bump stocks on a state level.

That state law also raised the minimum age for all gun purchases from 18 to 21.

The bill did not outright ban the sales of AR-15 style assault rifles, which are often used in mass shootings, including both the Florida and Las Vegas shootings. Gun control advocates have long called for such a ban, but so far have not had any success.

Just hours after Florida Governor Scott Pruitt signed the Florida legislation on Friday, the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed a federal lawsuit against the state over the portion of the law that raises the minimum age to buy a firearm.</s>The US Justice Department moved Saturday to redefine machineguns to include "bump stocks," a regulatory tweak that would ban devices used to boost the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons.

The proposed change must undergo a review but if approved would outlaw the possession, sale or manufacture of bump stocks under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act.

The devices were used to devastating effect by the gunman who rained fire on concert-goers in Las Vegas October 1, killing 58 people and injuring more than 850.

After the February 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people, President Donald Trump called for a ban on bump stocks even though the semi-automatic rifle used in that case was not fitted with the device.

The outrage over the Florida shooting, however, has raised public pressure for broad action on the availability of semi-automatic weapons.

Students who survived the attack are organizing a massive march on Washington in two weeks to demand stricter curbs on guns.

The president "is absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of every American and he has directed us to propose a regulation addressing bump stocks," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

"To that end, the Department of Justice has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a notice of a proposed regulation to clarify that the National Firearms and Gun Control Act defines 'machinegun' to include bump stock type devices."</s>WASHINGTON—The U.S. Justice Department has submitted a regulation to ban devices that allow certain firearms to fire as rapidly as machine guns, making so-called bump stocks illegal to own or sell.

The proposed ban represents the first action from the executive branch on guns since President Donald Trump said last year that he wanted to make school safety the White House’s priority.

“President Trump is absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of every American and he has directed us to propose a regulation addressing bump stocks,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement Saturday.

The regulation would amend the definition of machine guns in the National Firearms and Gun Control Act to include bump stock-type devices, Mr. Sessions said. The Justice Department said the regulation must undergo review by the federal Office of Management and Budget before it can take effect.

The move comes in the wake of the mass shooting last month at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead. Bump stocks became part of the national conversation over gun control for the first time last year, when the devices were found among the weapons used in the Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people Oct. 1.

An expanded version of this report appears at WSJ.com.</s>The US Department of Justice on Saturday moved to ban bump stocks, firearm accessories used to mimic automatic fire.

In a notice submitted for approval to the Office of Management and Budget, the DoJ proposed that bump stocks be included in the definition of “machine gun” in the 1934 National Firearms Act.

The accessory was not used in the recent Florida school shooting, in which 17 people were killed, but it was used last year in the deadly shooting in Las Vegas.

Officials said the Las Vegas gunman had 12 rifles fitted with bump stocks in the hotel room where he carried out the attack that left 58 dead and more than 850 injured.

Donald Trump vowed last month to ban bump stocks and other attachments that enable semi-automatic firearms to fire at close to the rate of a machine gun.

“President Trump is absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of every American and he has directed us to propose a regulation addressing bump stocks,” attorney general Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

The NRA, which donated $30m to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, has not supported an outright ban on bump stocks.

The gun lobby group does support additional regulations for bump stocks and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Friday, the NRA filed a lawsuit hours after Florida governor Rick Scott signed into law new gun regulations, including a bump stock ban.</s>The Trump administration said Saturday it has taken the first step in the regulatory process to ban bump stocks, likely setting the stage for long legal battles with gun manufacturers while the trigger devices remain on the market.

The move was expected after President Donald Trump ordered the Justice Department to work toward a ban following the shooting deaths of 17 people at a Florida high school in February. Bump stocks, which enable guns to fire like automatic weapons, were not used in that attack — they were used in last year's Las Vegas massacre — but have since become a focal point in the gun control debate.
• ANALYSIS | Even NRA wants review of bump stocks after Las Vegas shooting
• A closer look at bump stocks — the new target in U.S. gun control debate

The Justice Department's regulation would classify the hardware as a machine-gun banned under federal law. That would reverse a 2010 decision by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that found bump stocks did not amount to machine-guns and could not be regulated unless Congress amended existing firearms law or passed a new one.

A reversal of the department's earlier evaluation could be seen as an admission that it was legally flawed, which manufacturers could seize on in court. Even as the Trump administration moves toward banning the devices, some ATF officials believe it lacks the authority to do so.

But any congressional effort to create new gun control laws would need support from the pro-gun Republican majority. A bid to ban the accessory fizzled last year, even as lawmakers expressed openness to the idea after nearly 60 people were gunned down in Las Vegas.

Calls mounted for a bump stock ban after that massacre, and the Justice Department said it would again review whether they can be prohibited under federal law. Trump told officials to expedite the review, which yielded more than 100,000 comments from the public and the firearms industry. Many of the comments came from gun owners angry over any attempt to regulate the accessory, a move they view as a slippery slope toward outlawing guns altogether.

The proposal still needs the approval of the Office of Management, which oversees regulations on behalf of the president, before it is published and subject to a commentary period.
• NRA opposes full ban on bump stocks used by Vegas gunman

​The National Rifle Association has supported more regulations on bump stocks but has not endorsed Trump's proposed ban and said previously it was awaiting the publication of the regulation before rendering judgment.</s>The Justice Department moved forward on Saturday with plans to ban bump stock devices and make them illegal to own or sell.

The move comes after President Trump signed an executive order that instructed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to regulate the devices, which help speed up the pace of gunfire and allow semi-automatic guns to fire at a rate that mimics a fully automatic firearm.

On Saturday, Sessions announced his office submitted a notice to the Office of Management and Budget that would clarify the definition of "machinegun" and add bump stocks to the list of devices banned.

More: Trump takes executive action to ban bump stocks that increase weapons' firepower

More: ATF reviewing whether to ban 'bump stocks'

More: 'Bump stocks' may be new to you, but federal officials have grappled with them for years

The notice is one of the first steps in banning bump stocks. After approved by the office, the DOJ says it will "seek to publish this notice as expeditiously as possible."

The order would prohibit people from owning the devices, selling them and stop companies from manufacturing them.

"President Trump is absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of every American and he has directed us to propose a regulation addressing bump stocks,” Sessions said in a statement.

Bump stocks were found among the weapons used in the Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people Oct. 1. Such bump-fire devices use the recoil of a semiautomatic firearm to rapidly pull the trigger, mimicking fully automatic firing.

The Vegas shooting, the deadliest in recent U.S. history, reignited the conversation on whether the devices are legal.

Congress banned the sale and manufacture of machine guns for civilian use in 1986, and machine guns in circulation before then are tightly regulated, limited in number and expensive.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has debated over the devices for years and has issued a series of opinions, determining that the devices were lawful.

Trump took on the issue after the Valentine's Day high school shooting in Parkland, Fla., as students and gun-control advocates pressured him and other lawmakers to examine current gun laws.

He announced the order on bump stocks last month after meeting with survivors of the shooting.

“We must do more to protect our children,” Trump said, promising that school safety is a top priority of his administration.
The U.S. Department of Justice submits a regulation to ban bump stocks, a modification to semi-automatic guns that allows the user to fire at a faster rate.