Ghost guns are firearms made by a private individual, in contrast to one produced by a corporate or government entity
The Supreme Court will hear a challenge today to the Biden administration’s 2022 regulation on ghost guns or untraceable firearms that can be assembled from parts sold online or 3D-printed.
The rule issued two years back by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) requires that ghost guns be treated like regular firearms, with serial numbers and buyer background checks.
The court case isn’t about the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms but to determine if the ATF overstepped its authority when creating the regulation.
According to the Biden administration, the number of ghost guns found in crime scenes shot up between 2017 and 2021, from 3,960 to 25,785. This played a major role in the ATF rule.
A group of 20 major cities, including New York, Baltimore, Boston and Chicago, have said in a filing that the restrictions have led to a decrease in ghost gun recoveries.
However, gun-rights groups and parts manufacturers argue the ATF exceeded its authority and that only Congress can change the law.
SCOTUS has previously ruled against agency regulations on guns. In June, it lifted the Trump administration’s ban on bump stocks.
The current case ruling could uphold or limit the government’s ability to regulate ghost guns. A decision is expected by June 2025.