ATF Bump Stock Machine Gun Definition (Cargill Conforming Amendment)

Current understanding

ATF is amending 27 CFR machine gun definitions to remove bump-stock-type devices, conforming its regulations to the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling in Garland v. Cargill, which held that bump stocks do not qualify as machine guns under the National Firearms Act. The rule is a conforming amendment implementing the Court’s mandate rather than a new policy determination. Practical effect: bump stocks are no longer treated as regulated machine guns under federal firearms law, and prior ATF classification and surrender requirements tied to the 2018 rule are withdrawn.

Evidence log

• 2022-06-09 — Protecting Our Kids Act: cross-connection with protecting-our-kids-act: Both address federal regulation of bump stocks; the bill would create a statutory framework alongside ATF’s rulemaking. (novelty: 3)
• 2026-05-06 — Revising Machine Gun Definition in Response to Supreme Court Decision: cross-connection with atf-stabilizing-braces-factoring-criteria-rescission: Both are ATF administrative rollbacks of prior firearms classification rules following adverse judicial rulings (Cargill for bump stocks; APA-based invalidation for stabilizing braces). (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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