With the Tuesday (Dec. 18, 2018) announcement that bump stocks now fall within the definition of “machinegun” under federal law, a lot of Kane County gun owners likely are looking at how to either destroy their bump stocks or turn them in to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

According to an ATF news release the Department of Justice has amended the ATF regulations, clarifying that bump stocks fall within the definition of “machinegun” under federal law, as such devices allow a shooter of a semiautomatic firearm to initiate a continuous firing cycle with a single pull of the trigger.

• Click this link to download a PDF of the final rule.

The rule will go into effect 90 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register, the ATF said.

What To Do

Current possessors of bump-stock-type devices must divest themselves of possession as of the effective date of the final rule.

One option is to destroy the device, and the final rule identifies possible methods of destruction, to include completely melting, shredding, or crushing the device. Any method of destruction must render the device incapable of being readily restored to function.

• Click this link to find out how to destroy bump stocks.

Current possessors also have the option to abandon bump-stock-type devices at the nearest ATF office. ATF advises that it is best to make an appointment beforehand with the nearest ATF office.

• Click this link to find your local ATF office.

Here are the three locations nearest to Kane County. Driving distances (show in parentheses) are from the Kane County Government Center in Geneva:

ATF Resources

• Website: www.atf.gov
• Open Data: https://data.atf.gov/
• Social Media: https://www.atf.gov/news/social-media

SOURCE: ATF news release, website