WASHINGTON—Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) on June 18 blocked a Democrat-backed bill to ban bump stocks, days after the Supreme Court reversed a Trump-era ban on the gun accessory.
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) requested unanimous consent for the Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts Act, meaning only one senator was needed to reject the measure.
“There’s no legitimate use for a bump stock … what they are tailor-made for is a mass shooting,” Mr. Heinrich said. “Congress needs to act. We need to pass my bill banning bump stocks and do it now.”
Mr. Ricketts, when he objected, said that the legislation was broader than it first appeared, arguing that it targeted any gun accessory that increased the rate of fire….