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WORLAND — The Las Vegas gunman possessed a little-known device called a “bump stock” that was not widely sold — until now.

Originally created with the idea of making it easier for people with disabilities to shoot a gun, the attachments allow a semi-automatic rifle to mimic a fully automatic weapon by unleashing an entire large magazine in seconds. Now the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history has drawn attention to the devices, which critics say flout federal restrictions on automatic guns, according to the Associated Press.

The stocks have been around for less than a decade. The government, under the Obama Administration, gave its seal of approval to selling them in 2010 after concluding that they did not violate federal law. According to a letter from the Firearms Technology Branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as provided by the Slide Fire website, “The stock has no automatically functioning mechanical parts or springs and performs no automatic mechanical function when installed. In order to use the installed device, the shooter must apply constant forward pressure with the non-shooting hand and constant rearward pressure with the shooting hand. Accordingly, we find that the “bump-stock” is a firearm part and is not regulated as a firearm under Gun Control Act or the National Firearms Act.

The device basically replaces the gun’s stock and pistol grip and causes the gun to buck back and forth, repeatedly “bumping” the trigger against the shooter’s finger. Technically, that means the finger is pulling the trigger for each round fired, keeping the weapon a legal semi-automatic.

The rapid fire does not necessarily make the weapon any more lethal — much of that would depend on the type of ammunition used. But it does allow the person firing the weapon to get off more shots more quickly.

It’s unclear how many have been sold. Listings for the devices had been seen on websites for Walmart and Cabela’s, two of the nation’s largest gun retailers. But those listings were no longer on either company’s website on Wednesday.

Walmart said in a statement that it pulled the devices after determining they violated a “prohibited items policy” and never should have been offered for sale. Cabela’s did not return messages from the AP seeking comment.

The leading bump stock maker, Slide Fire, did not return messages from the Associated seeking comment. Slide Fire has suspended sales of the items. In a post on its website, the company said it was not taking any new orders “to provide the best service with those already placed.”

According to the Slide Fire website, “Our patented technology allows for an alternate shooting technique whereby safe, reliable rapid fire is possible.”

Sales for firearms or specific accessories seem to jump after every high-profile shooting. That will likely happen again with bump stocks, said Dr. Garen Wintemute, director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis.

“People will go, ‘Oh geez, I should get one of those.’ The other is that people will be concerned about efforts to ban them,” Wintemute said.

LOCAL REACTION

However, locally that is not happening. The Outdoorsman manager Ken Kucera said the Outdoorsman has never handled bump stocks and never had anyone ask for them.

“We don’t sell a lot of tactical accessories, we focus more on hunting,” Kucera said.

Guy Agee, manager of PrescribeD Firearms, said they don’t offer bump stocks and have not had any requests.

“Quite honestly, a lot of people didn’t know what they were [until the Las Vegas shooting Sunday],” Agee said. He added that they did have two that were accidentally sent to the store when it first opened but they sent them back since there was no interest.

Nick Thiry, manager of Rocky Mountain Discount Sports in Cody said, “Most people have never even heard of [bump stocks].” He said they have not carried bump stocks and have had no requests for the accessory.

He added that he has not seen an impact on gun sales since the Las Vegas mass shooting.

But the reaction in the Big Horn Basin is not the same across the country.

According to the Associated Press, manufacturers tout the stocks, some of which sell for less than $200, as offering a simple and affordable alternative to automatic weapons without the hassle of a rigorous background check and other restrictions.

Ed Turner, who owns Ed’s Public Safety, a gun shop in Stockbridge, Georgia, said he’s already seeing a run on bump stocks since the shooting. He said he would be surprised if he had sold two of them in the past decade, but now he’s unable to find any available, even from wholesalers.

While the stocks allow a gun to quickly spray bullets, gun experts say they also create such a jolt that accuracy is affected. That may not matter to gun owners who just want the thrill of shooting with one, or for those bent on destruction. Stephen Paddock, the 64-year-old gunman, fired hundreds of rounds indiscriminately from his 32nd-floor room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on a music festival outside.

He had 23 guns in the room. Authorities found bump stocks attached to 12 of the weapons, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent in Charge Jill Schneider said.

REGULATIONS

The shooting renewed a push by some lawmakers to ban bump stocks. California Sen. Diane Feinstein, a Democrat, said the devices can enable a gun to fire 400 to 800 rounds per minute and “inflict absolute carnage.”

According to the AP, Erich Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, said the industry is prepared to have the devices scrutinized by lawmakers and gun-control advocates. That happens regularly after a major shooting. But he and others defended their use, suggesting it’s unfair to go after firearms when other weapons — trucks and fertilizer, for example — aren’t as quickly criticized after deadly attacks.

“Ultimately, when Congress ... looks at this, they’ll start asking questions about why anybody needs this, and I think the answer is we have a Bill of Rights and not a Bill of Needs,” Pratt said.

Senior congressional Republicans said Wednesday they are open to considering legislation banning “bump stocks” like the shooter in Las Vegas apparently used to make semi-automatic rifles perform more like fully automatic weapons.

The No. 2 Senate Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, said, “If somebody can essentially convert a semi-automatic weapon by buying one of these and utilizing it and cause the kind of mayhem and mass casualties that we saw in Las Vegas, that’s something of obvious concern that we ought to explore.”

He added, “I own a lot of guns and as a hunter and sportsman I think that’s our right as Americans, but I don’t understand the use of this bump stock and that’s another reason to have a hearing.”

WYOMING SENATORS

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), when contacted Friday about the proposed legislation, issued this statement, “Our thoughts are with the victims and the families impacted by the shooting in Las Vegas. Right now, our focus should be on them and providing law enforcement with the federal resources needed to investigate this tragedy. 

“Every day across Wyoming, we responsibly exercise our right to keep and bear arms. I will continue to support policies that protect our constitutional right to protect our homes and families.”

Sen. Mike Enzi’s press secretary Max D’Onofrio said, “The attack in Las Vegas was an unspeakable tragedy and Senator Enzi shares the nation’s shock and heartbreak. His thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and their family members.

“Senator Enzi believes we need to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. However, the right of the American people to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right guaranteed in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, so he also believes that Congress should not limit the right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. Senator Enzi has been and always will be a defender of the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

“Senator Enzi will keep those things in mind should the Senate consider any legislation dealing with firearms or firearms accessories.”

The Northern Wyoming Daily News reached out to Rep. Liz Cheney’s staff via email but did not receive a statement by press time.

The National Rifle Association has joined the Trump administration in a swift and surprising embrace of the proposal to regulate the “bump stock” devices the Las Vegas shooter apparently used to horrifically lethal effect, according to the AP.

The NRA, which famously opposes virtually any hint of new restrictions, said in a statement: “The National Rifle Association is calling on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to immediately review whether these devices comply with federal law. The NRA believes that devices designed to allow semi-automatic rifles to function like fully automatic rifles should be subject to additional regulations.”

Moments after, at the White House, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised the announcement.

“We welcome that and a conversation on that,” Sanders said. “It’s something we’re very open to.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.