In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court has struck down a federal ban on “bump stocks,” the devices which can up semi-automatic firearms to discharge ammunition almost as rapidly as machine guns.
SCOTUS ruled that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives exceeded its authority when it banned the devices on grounds they convert otherwise legal semi-automatic weapons into illegal machine guns.
Writing for the majority, Clarence Thomas said the ATF had long interpreted federal law to permit bump stocks, and only changed its mind after Trump issued his order.
In dissent, Justice Sotomayor accused the conservative majority of once again turning a blind eye to the reality of gun violence, and making it yet more difficult to adopt measures aimed at preventing bloodshed.
Bump stocks have been behind some of the most devastating mass shootings in recent history.
Stay tuned for more horrifying decisions from the Supreme Court.
