The Texas gun shop owner who challenged the bump stock ban that the Supreme Court struck down on Friday celebrated the decision as a victory for Second Amendment rights.
"Breaking news. I did it," Michael Cargill, who sued the Justice Department over the Trump-era ban after he was ordered to surrender two bump stocks, in a statement on the social media site X.
"I was told over five years ago why are you going down this road, no one cares about bump stocks. Let's go ahead and let them take the bump stocks," Cargill, who owns a gun store in Austin, said.
"But instead, I stood and fought, and because of this the bump stock case is going to be the case that saves everything. It's going to stop the ATF from coming after your pistol brace, triggers, all different parts and pieces that they are trying to ban," he added.
I WON 6-3 Garland vs Cargill@centexguns @ComeAndTalkIt @NCLAlegal #bumpstock #CargillVGarland pic.twitter.com/g3K7FcGU6g
— Michael Cargill (@michaeldcargill) June 14, 2024
Cargill argued the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped when it reversed its longstanding policy and reclassified bump stocks as a machine gun after 2017's mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 60 people.
The shooter, using a rifle outfitted with a bump stock, managed to fire off more than 1,000 rounds in a matter of minutes.
Cargill said the 6-3 decision by the court represents case law.
"So now we have a case that is case law that we can move around the country and defend our Second Amendment rights. As always, more guns less crime," Cargill said.
"You go out there and buy yourself a gun. Better yet, get yourself a bump stock," he added.
Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, agreed with Cargill.
Thomas said a weapon equipped with a bump stock cannot be classified as a "machine gun" because it is unable to fire more than one shot "by a single function of the trigger."
"And, even if it could, it would not do so 'automatically.' ATF therefore exceeded its statutory authority by issuing a Rule that classifies bump stocks as machineguns," he wrote.
