In a recent 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court overturned former President Donald Trump's ban on bump stocks, revealing Trump's underlying intentions regarding the issue. This ruling sheds light on a seven-year political drama, where Trump seemed to anticipate the court's decision and accepted it, urging Americans to respect the outcome. However, this reversal could have unforeseen consequences, potentially benefiting President Joe Biden and hindering Trump in their upcoming November rematch.

The ban on bump stocks came in the aftermath of the tragic 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, which claimed the lives of 58 individuals and left hundreds injured. At the time, a majority of Americans voiced their support for the government to restrict access to bump stocks, which enable shooters to fire a semiautomatic rifle at the rate of a fully automatic weapon. Democrats, along with some Republican lawmakers, demanded congressional action.

Trump found himself faced with a difficult decision. Taking no action would alienate mainstream voters, while pushing Congress to legislate a ban would anger gun-rights voters within his own party. Republican lawmakers believed that Trump's influence and popularity could help pass a law. However, Trump opted for a different strategy that temporarily defused the gun-control debate and placed the issue before the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.

Drawing inspiration from the National Rifle Association (NRA), Trump used his executive authority to implement a Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives regulation banning bump stocks. This approach aligned with the NRA's desire to avoid both new firearm-control legislation and accusations of inaction following the Las Vegas massacre. The NRA's top executives even called for additional regulation on devices that allow semiautomatic rifles to function like fully-automatic rifles.

The majority opinion of the recent Supreme Court ruling, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, focused on the language used to describe bump stocks and their impact on semiautomatic rifles. Thomas concluded that bump stocks did not convert rifles into "machine guns." Despite Trump's history of attacking courts and their officers when things didn't go his way, he refrained from doing so this time and instead allowed his campaign to issue a statement endorsing the court's decision.

Campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt emphasized the need to respect the court's ruling, portraying Trump as a staunch defender of gun rights and highlighting his endorsement from the NRA. Trump's reliance on the court to ensure continued access to bump stocks has been a long-term plan that finally came to fruition after seven years of political maneuvering.

The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Trump's bump stock ban has sparked discussions about its potential implications for the November rematch between Trump and Biden. While it remains to be seen how this ruling will ultimately impact the political landscape, Trump's strategic approach to sidestep a lasting response to the Las Vegas tragedy seems to have played out according to plan, at least for the time being.