Florida – Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz of Florida has praised former President Donald Trump for his 2019 decision to impose a federal ban on bump stocks. This comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that overturned the ban, a decision that Moskowitz has criticized as dangerous.
The Ban and the Overturn
Bump stocks are accessories that allow semi-automatic firearms to fire at speeds comparable to machine guns. They gained notoriety after being used in devastating mass shootings at a Las Vegas music festival and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. In response to these tragedies, the Trump administration banned bump stocks in 2019, reclassifying them as illegal machine guns.
However, on Friday, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority overturned the ban. The 6-3 decision concluded that the Trump administration had misused its regulatory power in reclassifying bump stock-equipped weapons.
Moskowitz’s Response
Congressman Moskowitz, who was instrumental in passing a Florida state law banning bump stocks after the Parkland shooting, took to social media to express his disapproval of the Supreme Court’s ruling while commending Trump’s original decision.
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“Former President Trump was right to ban bump stocks!” Moskowitz wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The Supreme Court Justices he appointed are radically and dangerously wrong today.”
Moskowitz highlighted the bipartisan nature of his efforts to ban bump stocks in Florida, emphasizing the safety concerns for both the public and law enforcement. “My bipartisan bill in Florida banned bump stocks following the shooting at my high school Marjory Stoneman Douglas,” he added. “This result will make everyone less safe including our law enforcement officers.”
Trump’s Campaign and NRA Endorsement
At the time of the Supreme Court’s decision, Trump had not publicly commented on the overturning of his ban. However, his 2024 presidential campaign issued a statement urging respect for the court’s decision and touting Trump’s strong stance on Second Amendment rights.
“The Court has spoken and their decision should be respected,” said Karoline Leavitt, Trump campaign press secretary. “President Trump has been and always will be a fierce defender of Americans’ Second Amendment rights and he is proud to be endorsed by the NRA.”
Leavitt further asserted the critical importance of the right to keep and bear arms, claiming that President Joe Biden seeks to infringe on this right for law-abiding Americans.
Biden’s Reaction
President Biden strongly denounced the Supreme Court’s decision, labeling the bump stock ban as “an important gun safety regulation.” He referenced the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, where the shooter used a bump stock to kill 60 people and injure hundreds more, as a stark reminder of the devastation such devices can cause.
“Americans should not have to live in fear of this mass devastation,” Biden said in a statement. “We know thoughts and prayers are not enough. I call on Congress to ban bump stocks, pass an assault weapon ban, and take additional action to save lives—send me a bill and I will sign it immediately.”
Supreme Court’s Stance
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, appointed by former President George W. Bush, suggested that while the tragic events underscore the need for legal changes, the court’s ruling was bound by the current statutory language.
“The horrible shooting spree in Las Vegas in 2017 did not change the statutory text or its meaning,” Alito wrote. “An event that highlights the need to amend a law does not itself change the law’s meaning.”
Alito emphasized that the appropriate course of action would be for Congress to address the issue legislatively. “There is a simple remedy for the disparate treatment of bump stocks and machine guns,” he added. “Now that the situation is clear, Congress can act.”
The overturning of the bump stock ban has sparked significant debate and highlighted the divisions within both the public and political spheres regarding gun control. While Trump receives unexpected praise from some Democratic quarters, the broader battle over gun legislation continues. As both sides of the political aisle grapple with the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision, the focus now shifts to Congress and its potential to enact new laws addressing gun safety and regulation.
