The national bump stock ban may be a nonissue for Butler County.

Bump fire stocks are gunstocks designed to more easily promote bump firing, a process allowing semi-automatic firearms to fire in a manner similar to a fully automatic weapons.

After plans began in March, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday the stocks would be classified as machine guns and illegal.

Owners of existing bumps stocks, including current owners, gun shops and manufacturers, must destroy or turn over the banned attachments to police.

Sgt. Jack Ripper of the Penn Township Police said he is not sure how much of an impact the ban will have on local residents.

“I've never run into one. I've never laid hands on one,” Ripper said. “I don't know anyone around here that has one.”

He said he believed that any gun in the wrong hands endangers the public and the officers who serve and protect.

“Whether it's a bump stock or not, it's the person that's operating it,” Ripper said. “You can do harm with whatever you have.”

Current law bans the purchase of fully automatic weapons manufactured after 1986, but in 2010 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ruled bump stocks were considered a part of a gun that falls outside restriction.

Tuesday's announcement said the attachment will be labeled as a “machine gun” moving forward.

Grant Williams, owner of Sportsman's Supply, said the product was not heavily sought at his store.

“I want to say that about five years ago, when they first came out, we had some people ask us for them, and we ordered them in for them,” Williams said. “We've never had them in our inventory or promoted them.”

Williams said those that he helped acquire the attachments for were physically handicapped and were using the stock to help them enjoy shooting guns as a hobby.

“They enjoyed shooting, and it was a means for using that product for that,” Williams said. “I would feel badly that these people have been criminalized for the actions of a few.”

Williams said that in some cases the attachment was helpful, but it won't affect the way his store goes about its business.

“Personally, I don't take an issue with it because it's not anything we had any strong beliefs in,” he said. “I don't know how many lives are going to be saved by this.”

Bob Stephenson, president of the Butler Hunting and Fishing Club, said the club has long had rules against bump stocks.

“It's because it makes them shoot like they're full automatic. It really tears the targets up,” Stephenson said. “When those things start shooting, they really don't have any control over it.”

Stephenson said the stocks' range wasn't designed for that type of use.

“We're a hunting and fishing club. Our range is for sighting your guns in for hunting,” he said.

Stephenson said the club had only one incident involving the use of a bump stock.

“The father was a little upset about it,” he said. “He thought we should build a place to do that.”

Stephenson said the club is committed to not allowing bump stock use at the range.

“We don't need it. It's that simple, especially for sportsmen,” Stephenson said.