The Trump administration is proposing banning bump stocks, which allow guns to mimic fully automatic fire and were used in last year’s Las Vegas massacre.
The Justice Department’s regulation would classify the device as a machine gun prohibited under federal law.
The move was expected after President Donald Trump ordered officials to work towards a ban after 17 people were killed at a Florida high school.
It sets the stage for what could become prolonged legal battles with gun manufacturers while the devices remain on the street.
Department of Justice Submits Notice of Proposed Regulation Banning Bump Stocks https://t.co/Rc2TF8ogFw
— Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) March 10, 2018
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had previously approved bump stocks.
ATF officials believed they lacked the authority to regulate the devices without action from Congress.
The proposal still needs Office of Management and Budget approval.
A bid to ban the accessory fizzled out last year, even as legislators expressed openness to the idea after nearly 60 people were gunned down in Las Vegas.
Calls mounted for a bump stock ban after that massacre, and the Justice Department said it would again review whether they can be prohibited under federal law.
Mr Trump told officials to expedite the review, which yielded more than 100,000 comments from the public and the firearms industry.
Many of the comments came from gun owners angry over any attempt to regulate the accessory, a move they view as a first step towards outlawing guns altogether.
