The Supreme Court has made a significant ruling regarding ghost guns, which are homemade firearms that can be assembled from parts kits. In a decision announced on Wednesday, the court upheld a federal regulation that restricts the sale of these kits, affirming their classification as firearms under federal law. The ruling came down with a 7-2 majority, indicating strong support among the justices.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, speaking for the majority, emphasized the importance of the federal tracing system used by law enforcement to connect firearms to their owners. This decision is seen as a win for gun control advocates, especially as it supports regulations that can help track and limit access to untraceable weapons.
The regulation in question was issued by the Biden administration in 2022 and has received backing from various police and prosecutor groups. It mandates that gun manufacturers and dealers conduct background checks, ensure firearms have serial numbers, and keep records of sales. This is crucial given the alarming rise in the number of ghost guns recovered from crime scenes. In 2021 alone, law enforcement seized over 19,000 ghost guns, a tenfold increase from just four years prior.
The ruling reverses a previous decision by conservative judges in Texas who argued that Congress had not granted federal authorities the power to ban these parts kits. Dissenting justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr., expressed their disagreement with the majority opinion.
California has already taken steps to ban the sale of ghost gun kits, but state Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighted the need for a federal ban to effectively prevent these kits from being shipped through the mail. He noted that unserialized guns have been responsible for nearly 30% of all firearms recovered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in California in recent years.
The Supreme Court’s decision is viewed as a critical step in addressing the growing threat posed by ghost guns. This ruling not only reinforces efforts to regulate firearms but also aims to reduce access to guns by individuals barred from owning them. As gun violence continues to be a pressing issue, this decision is expected to have lasting implications for gun laws and public safety across the nation.