House Speaker wants to ban bump stocks

House Speaker Robert DeLeo plans to fast-track legislation filed Wednesday by Rep. David Linsky that would ban bump stocks, his office said. “Speaker DeLeo believes bump stocks should be illegal, and the House will move quickly on the issue,” a spokesman for DeLeo said. 

Bump fire stocks harness a rifle’s recoil to allow for continuous shooting similar to an automatic weapon and 12 of the devices were found in the Las Vegas hotel room from which gunman Stephen Paddock laid waste to a country music festival below, killing 58 people and injuring nearly 500 more. 

Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday said he thinks bump stocks should be banned.

“That should be outlawed, and if that were to pass tomorrow we would sign it,” Baker told reporters.

Senate President Stan Rosenberg also thinks they should be illegal according to his office.

Linsky, a Natick Democrat who helped craft the state’s 2014 gun violence prevention bill, filed legislation on Wednesday that would ban bump stocks and all high capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The bill has not yet been referred to committee.

The Gun Owners Action League, the Massachusetts affiliate of the National Rifle Association, does not have a position on bump stocks.