Some want to ban it. Some want to regulate it. Others want to just leave it like it is. 

Either way, it’s a topic of debate — the modification accessory used by a gunman on Oct. 1 to kill 59 people and wound hundreds more at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Meanwhile, the so-called bump stock accessory that allows semi-automatic weapons to fire hundreds of rounds per minute is flying off the shelves all over the country.

“Once they found out that’s what he was using, and they talked about banning them, that’s when people started wanting them,” said Matt Espey, manager at Modern Outfitters in Meridian. “That’s when there’s a huge flood of people who have to have them.”

Espey said the bump stocks were discontinued at the Meridian Modern Outfitters about three years ago.

“We have a range here, and people would take them here and begin to destroy the range,” Espey said. “We were like, ‘No, this isn’t something we want to sell.’”

After calling several other gun stores in Meridian, only one local business said it carried the bump stocks, but they were all sold out.

“We sold the last one yesterday,” said Sonny Smith of Garrett’s Sports Center & Archery on Eighth Street. “Since what happened in Las Vegas, everybody’s wanting one.”

Smith also said the store had no plans to order more bump stocks.

Employees at Southern Sportsman and Rock House Gun & Pawn said they did not carry the accessories.

Meridian Gun and Pawn declined to comment.

According to an Oct. 5 PBS report, some companies nationwide have sold out of bump stocks. Major stores like Walmart and Cabela’s have since removed them from their websites, but they are still available on a number of retail and auction websites at significantly higher prices.

Originally priced around $100, the accessories are now being sold for as much as $700, and the price continues to rise with the demand.

Meridian Police Chief Benny Dubose and Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie said bump stocks have not been a problem in the area.

“I know that they exist and they’re fairly cheap considering what they do, but we haven’t run across any in our dealings so far,” Dubose said.

Dubose and Sollie both say handguns are the most popular weapons among criminals in Lauderdale County.

“It’s usually up close and personal with a handgun,” the sheriff said.

Possible legislation?

On the political level, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Cali.) introduced a bill that would ban the sale and possession of bump stock equipment and other similar devices. The National Rifle Association and the Trump White House expressed support this week for regulations on bump stocks, with House Speaker Paul Ryan and other GOP lawmakers also backing the effort.

The NRA, which historically frowns on firearm regulations, publicly stated its concerns with bump stocks in a formal statement.

“Despite the fact that the Obama administration approved the sale of bump fire stocks on at least two occasions, the National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law,” the NRA wrote in a statement.

Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) said he wants to take “everything under consideration” in light of the tragedy in Las Vegas.

“I continue to be shocked and saddened by the horrible scope of the killing and injuries perpetrated in Las Vegas,” Cochran said. “ As we address the aftermath of this violence, I will carefully review information and proposals regarding how best to respond to this tragic event.”

Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) said “we are all in search of some explanation as to why this sick individual would commit such an evil act, and what steps we can take to prevent it from happening again.”

“While there are always voices that are quick to shout for more regulation on law-abiding citizens, I think we should now be patient with the law enforcement personnel investigating the case, and focus on trying to determine the shooter’s motivation and what if anything we can realistically do to better protect our law-abiding citizens,” Harper said.