ATF confirms 12 of Las Vegas gunman’s firearms were modified to simulate automatic fire

The ATF said in a press conference Tuesday 12 of Stephen Paddock’s guns were outfitted with bump-stocks, a device used to make rifle simulate a fully automatic weapon.

Photos were leaked to the media and KRDO NewsChannel 13 Tuesday that show the inside of the gunman’s hotel room, with multiple guns lying on the floor and on furniture. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office confirmed their validity Tuesday as well.

KRDO NewsChannel 13 took those photos to Mel Bernstein, owner of Dragonmans in east Colorado Springs. After glancing at the photos, Bernstein identified a bump-stock on a rifle. He said he first thought Stephen Paddock might have used the device after watching video clips taken by those on the ground during the shooting.

“The way it kept firing reminded me of the bump-stock,” Bernstein said.

In total, Bernstein said it’s the cheaper option. The rifle and bump-stock together cost about $650, and the owner doesn’t have to go through an approval process. In comparison to a fully automatic rifle that goes for $18,000, and the owner has to go through a 10-month approval process.

“I can’t believe they’ve had it legal for this long,” Bernstein said.

Bernstein also spotted a 100-round magazine in one of the rifles in the photos, which he said Paddock couldn’t have bought at a local gun store.

“He must have known somebody,” Bernstein said. “That’s why he could keep firing.”

The ATF also said in the press conference Tuesday that all of the firearms have been traced, and none of them appear to be homemade. The investigation is still underway to determine which firearms were used in the shooting.