Frank's Musings

The Supreme Court’s reversal of the ATF classification that bump-stock-modified firearms qualify for being controlled as machine-guns smacks of ribald politics.  That regulation was consistent with Congressional action and had Donald Trump’s approval when he was President.  Its reversal signals the continued genuflection of the Court’s conservative majority to the desires of even a scandal-weakened NRA.   No doubt, the NRA still will be a major financial supporter of the expected 2024 Trump presidential election campaign.  We can expect Trump will repent his decision to cave in to the outrage caused by the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting at the hand of a sole, bump-stock equipped rifleman. 

It is confusing and disappointing how blatantly the six conservative Justices displayed allegiance to a political candidate whose reelection chances might well have influenced their decision.  It certainly confirms Linda Greenhouse's conclusion in the NYT that Chief Justice Roberts is failing to protect the Court from jeopardizing its prestige with the American public.