HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Sales of "bump stock" attachments used by the Las Vegas shooter to turn semi-automatic rifles into virtual machine guns are soaring.
Channel 2's Tom Regan went to one local gun store where he's learned people are trying to buy them up before possible regulation.
“This is already sold. Waiting for the customer to pick it up,” said Georgia Gun Store owner Michael Weeks.
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Democrats, Republicans and President Donald Trump have all embraced a restriction on the "bump stock" devices. Even the National Rifle Association said that the status of "bump stocks" needs to be examined.
"Bump stocks" were found among the gunman's weapons and explain why victims in Las Vegas heard what sounded like automatic-weapons fire as the shooter rained bullets from a casino high-rise, slaughtering 58 people in a concert below and wounding hundreds more.
When word got out that the Vegas shooter had used the device on many of the rifles used in his massacre, the buying spree began.
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“I believe Wednesday morning they started showing it on the news, and by Wednesday at lunchtime, they were out,” Weeks said. “The distribution chain was dry.”
The talk of banning the “bump stocks” only fueled sales.
“Everyone is scared they’re not going to be able to get one,” Weeks said.
Most gun owners Regan spoke with said banning “bump stocks” wouldn’t discourage those intent on committing violent acts using the device.
“Outlawing them, all that’s going to do is stop law abiding citizens from buying them,” said customer Dylan Berta. “It’s not going to stop criminals from getting them.”