[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 102 (Monday, June 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4100-S4101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              BUMP STOCKS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now on bump stocks, last Friday, the 
MAGA Supreme Court struck once again, saying the Federal Government 
cannot prohibit the use of bump stocks--the accessory responsible for 
the deadliest shooting in American history.
  Nearly 7 years ago, a lone shooter fired over 1,000 rounds in just 10 
minutes upon a crowd of concertgoers in Las Vegas. Sixty innocent 
people were murdered; another 850 were injured. This was all possible 
because the shooter modified his rifles to function, essentially, as 
machine guns. The ATF under the Trump administration--under the Trump 
administration--banned the use of these accessories shortly after the 
Las Vegas shooting.
  Yet on Friday, the MAGA Court reached the incredible conclusion that 
weapons modified to act like machine guns, to fire bullets at almost 
the same rate as machine guns, and in which, in Judge Alito's own 
admission, do not show ``any material difference'' with machine guns 
are somehow not machine guns, which have been banned for a very long 
time, since the 1930s.
  Friday's ruling is yet another warning that this MAGA Court is going 
off the deep end, aligning itself more and more with the most extreme 
elements of the hard right. They have struck down freedom of choice, 
environmental protections, affirmative action, fair redistricting, gun 
safety, and more. The MAGA Supreme Court is now even further to the 
right of Donald Trump, who is very hard right himself.
  So this week, the Senate will step in to try and fix the chaos the 
MAGA Court just unleashed. As soon as tomorrow, Democrats will seek 
passage of a Federal ban on bump stocks. I urge my Republican 
colleagues not to block Senator Heinrich when he comes to the floor. He 
is the author of the bill banning bump stocks and leading the charge to 
get it passed quickly.
  Passing a bill banning bump stocks should be the work of 5 minutes. 
Most Americans support this step. Poll after poll show that a majority 
of people, including Independents, support restrictions on AR-15-style 
rifles, which is what bump stocks are designed to emulate.
  I understand that the issue of gun safety provokes intense 
disagreement in Congress, but shouldn't we all agree that preventing 
another tragedy like Las Vegas is just plain common sense and a good 
thing? Banning bump stocks would go a long way to making it harder for 
murderers to carry out large shootings. So I hope our Republican 
colleagues join us.
  Two years ago this month, Democrats and Republicans showed America 
that even something as controversial as gun safety can get passed when 
both sides are willing to work in good faith. I was very proud, as 
majority leader, and so proud of Members like Senator Murphy and 
Senator Sinema who worked hard on passing this legislation.
  Democrats are ready to pass gun safety once again, as soon as 
tomorrow. The question is, Will Republicans join us? Will Republicans 
join us to prevent another tragedy like Las Vegas and vote to ban 
deadly bump stocks?
  Republicans were supportive of banning bump stocks when the Trump 
administration took this step, so they should support it tomorrow.
  Will Republicans stand up to the gun lobby and side with parents and 
teachers and law enforcement who worry about violence striking their 
communities without warning?
  Will Senate Republicans resist the pull of MAGA extremism and embrace 
bipartisanship so once again we can keep people safe?
  I hope the answer is yes. I hope we can repeat the success of 2 years 
ago when we passed the first major gun safety bill in 30 years since I 
led the passage of the Brady bill in Congress. I was a Congressman 
then.
  We have a long way to go to cure America's disease of gun violence. 
Today, you don't need to show people the statistics. Americans know 
violence is disgustingly unacceptable. They can feel it in their bones. 
They are worried about where they go. They go into public spaces and 
instinctively look for exits. Sometimes just a loud noise can frighten 
people in public.

  And now this MAGA Court has undone the ban on bump stocks that will 
make it easier for deranged individuals to turn their weapons into near 
machine guns.
  If my Republican colleagues want to do the right thing for the 
country, the answer is very simple: Join us--every one of you--to ban 
bump stocks so that we never see the kind of carnage we saw in Las 
Vegas NV, ever, ever again.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.

[[Page S4101]]

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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