WASHINGTON — Alaska's federal lawmakers had varying, but generally hesitant responses to calls for new gun laws after this week's tragedy in Las Vegas turned national focus to accessories that dramatically boost the firing capacity of semi-automatic weapons.
Rep. Don Young and Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan said that "bump stocks" — accessories that can increase the speed and number of bullets that can be fired from a semi-automatic gun — were a product largely unknown to even the most avid gun user before this week.
The suspect in this week's massacre in Las Vegas reportedly altered his weapons with the product to increase the potential for casualties from his attack. Reports indicate that the shooter had a dozen such devices in his hotel room. Since then, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has introduced legislation to ban the product, and has gained some support from the NRA and President Donald Trump.
But Young said that's not the call he would make. And Sullivan said he needs to know more. Murkowski, meanwhile, joined with eight other Republican senators Friday afternoon to ask the Trump administration to review an Obama-era decision that allowed the sale of bump stock devices.
That follows a statement from the NRA, saying that the devices should face new regulations, and support from President Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan for looking into the issue.
Don Young said that potential White House plans to restrict the product "is not the decision I would have made."
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Young said that the product "can easily be remanufactured at home." And he argued that no laws or regulations would have stopped Stephen Paddock from taking 58 lives in Las Vegas on Sunday. "He was clearly disturbed, someone motivated by evil and mental illness — an issue I believe needs more attention, rather than the immediate reaction to restrict Second Amendment rights," Young said in a statement Friday.
The congressman said his resistance to new gun regulations should not be construed as "lacking compassion or sympathy for the victims. To me, this is about the U.S. Constitution and the fundamental understanding and belief that we have the right to keep and bear arms in this country in order to fight back against tyranny, ensure our freedoms are preserved, and that we may provide for the safety and security of our property and families."
A spokeswoman for Murkowski said that though the senator is an avid hunter and gun owner, she had not heard of "bump stocks" before this week, and expected further investigation into the devices.
Late Friday, Murkowski joined Republican Sens. Dean Heller of Nevada, John Cornyn of Texas, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, James Lankford and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, Tim Scott of South Carolina and John Thune of South Dakota in asking the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to review its previous decision on the devices, which determined they are legal under current law.
"We recognize that it is impossible to prevent tragedy and acts of 'pure evil,' in the words of our president. We believe, however, the tragic events in Las Vegas brought to light an issue from this past administration that we respectfully request that your bureau swiftly review," the senators wrote in their letter.
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Asked about the potential for banning the devices, Sullivan said Thursday afternoon that he needed to know more.
"I'm somebody who has a lot of firearms, been using (them) all my adult life — yesterday was the first time I'd ever heard of the term 'bump stock,' " Sullivan said.
Given that, Sullivan said that he preferred to gain a greater understanding about the devices and potential legislation before he was willing to take a stance on the issue.
"But normally, I refrain from commenting on something that I literally as of yesterday hadn't heard the term. And it's not like I'm unfamiliar with weapons," Sullivan said.
The National Rifle Association typically provides high scores to all three of Alaska's federal lawmakers. All three are gun owners.
The NRA made waves this week by releasing a statement late Thursday suggesting a review of federal requirements for bump stocks. "The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations," the organization said.