TexasCHLforum.com

The first case testing a Trump administration edict outlawing bump stocks failed during a brief federal bench trial in Tuesday in Houston.
A federal prosecutor withdrew the unique charge before the trial began for a Houston man accused of owning the device. However, the defense was prepared to call an ATF expert to testify that bump stocks, attachments that cause a rifle to fire more rapidly, do not render a semiautomatic gun a machine gun.

But Rick Vasquez, a retired ATF agent and firearms expert, would have told the court the bump stock did not meet the statutory definition of a machine gun. The prosecution dismissed case, he said, because the government couldn’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt the bump stock was a machine gun.

“If something doesn’t meet the definition of a machine gun it’s not a machine gun and no amount of wishing or passing rules can change it,” Berg said.

howdy wrote: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:36 am The bump stock owner won the case but he paid lots of his money to defend it. I hope he had help from a group or individuals.

srothstein wrote: Wed Nov 18, 2020 10:11 am

howdy wrote: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:36 am The bump stock owner won the case but he paid lots of his money to defend it. I hope he had help from a group or individuals.

I think bad circumstances may have helped us in this case. He was still convicted on other firearms charges. With those charges to put a win in the AUSA's record, it was easier to convince him to drop this charge. I think it was being used as more of an add-on anyway to try to force a plea.

crazy2medic wrote: Sat Dec 05, 2020 8:17 am My biggest issue with this is first the bump stock and now the pistol braces, ATF approves them then after there are hundreds in circulation suddenly now they disapprove of them making them illegal! Tough to close the barn door once the horse has gotten out!