Gun owners rush to buy bump stocks as Congress eyes crackdown

(FOX News) -- Retailers and manufacturers are seeing an apparent surge in interest in so-called bump stocks as Congress eyes a possible crackdown on the type of device allegedly used by the Las Vegas shooter. Slide Fire, which makes bump stocks, announced on its website it is suspending new orders, with a message indicating the company's supply is low. Another site that sells the company's products said in a message online that the device is "out of stock" and backordered.

Bump stocks reportedly have stopped being offered by retailers like Cabela's as well, at least for now. This comes as Republicans and Democrats alike discuss the possibility of banning the products.

>>VIDEO: What are 'bump stocks'?

The devices can be used to effectively convert semi-automatic rifles to fire so rapidly as to simulate an automatic weapon. The devices were found on guns used by Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock, who killed 59 and injured hundreds Sunday night.

Bump stocks are legal and originally were intended to help people with limited hand mobility fire a semi-automatic without the individual trigger pulls required. They can fit over the rear shoulder-stock assembly on an automatic rifle and with applied pressure cause the weapon to fire continuously, increasing the rate from between 45 and 60 rounds per minute to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute, according to California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office.

Feinstein, a prominent advocate for gun control, already has legislation to ban bump stocks.

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