Bump stock
Bump stock: A device that replaces a rifle's standard stock and uses recoil to help the shooter fire rapidly. In Garland v. Cargill, 602 U.S. 406 (2024), the Supreme Court held that a semiautomatic rifle with a bump stock is not a "machinegun" under federal law, so ATF exceeded its authority by classifying it as one.
What bump stock means
In short, bump stock is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.
Where bump stock comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
How to research the term
Start with the primary source. For example, if bump stock appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read bump stock in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Bona fide: latin for "in good faith." Genuine, real, made honestly and without fraud. For example, a bona fide purchaser buys property for value without notice of another person's competing claim, and many state recording laws protect such buyers.
- Bond: has several meanings.
- Bound: legally required to follow or perform something.
- Brief: a written legal argument submitted to a court. Appellate briefs follow detailed rules on contents, length and format (Fed. R. App. P. 28, 32), and trial courts receive briefs supporting or opposing motions. An amicus curiae brief is filed by a non-party (Fed. R. App. P. 29).
Why precise terms matter
Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.