On Tuesday the Supreme Court was divided on whether the Biden administration should be allowed to push forward regulations against ghost guns, that is, DIY firearm kits that can be assembled by people at home.
The Supreme Court had previously released a brief order which temporarily halted a July 5 ruling by a Texas federal judge that would block the regulation from being enforced across the nation. The 5-4 vote saw both Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett voting in favor of halting the blocking ruling.
Last year the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), released these regulations which they claimed would help address the increased availability of ghost guns. As they pointed out law enforcement has a hard time tracing these firearms which is why the administration referred to them as a threat to the public.
The rule further set that under federal law the definition of “firearms” also encompasses ghost guns. This means that the government has the ability to regulate them in the same way that manufactured firearms are being regulated.
According to the regulations, both manufacturers and sellers will need licenses in order to sell these kits and would be required to have records and conduct background checks on the buyers. It is also mandatory for them to mark the kit products using a serial number.
Everytown for Gun Safety president John Feinblatt argued that the Supreme Court’s decision was making the country safer.
Both manufacturers and sellers have opposed the new rules, but the court has sided with the government in these.
