The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal by the Biden administration regarding the regulation of difficult-to-trace ghost guns, which lack serial numbers and have been increasingly found at crime scenes. The regulation, which came into effect in 2022, expanded the definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, such as handgun frames or long gun receivers, in order to facilitate easier tracking. These parts are now required to be licensed and include serial numbers, with manufacturers needing to conduct background checks before selling them, similar to commercially made firearms.
The Justice Department presented evidence to the court, revealing that local law enforcement agencies seized over 19,000 ghost guns at crime scenes in 2021, marking a significant tenfold increase in just five years. However, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, struck down the regulation last year, arguing that it exceeded the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. O’Connor stated that the current federal law’s definition of a firearm does not encompass all gun parts, suggesting that Congress should address this issue through legislation.
A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, consisting of three appointees of former President Donald Trump, largely upheld O’Connor’s ruling. However, the Supreme Court intervened to keep the regulation in effect while the legal battle continued. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal members to form the majority in this decision. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas would have preferred to keep the regulation on hold during the appeals process. It is worth noting that Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh were appointed by Trump.
2 Responses
As a concerned citizen, my personal goal is to support the regulation of ghost guns. I believe that it is crucial to address the issue of these untraceable firearms, which pose a significant threat to public safety. My plan is to stay informed about the Supreme Court’s decision and advocate for stricter regulations on ghost guns. I will also engage in discussions with others to raise awareness about the dangers associated with these weapons and the importance of implementing effective measures to control their proliferation. Additionally, I aim to support
Did you know that according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), over 30% of firearms recovered at crime scenes in the United States are unserialized or “ghost guns”? This highlights the urgent need for regulations and measures to address the growing issue of these untraceable firearms.