In a rare move supporting gun control, the US Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Wednesday to uphold federal restrictions on ghost guns—untraceable firearms that can be easily assembled at home. The decision ensures that these weapons, often linked to rising gun violence, must now include serial numbers, background checks, and seller licensing requirements, reported the New York Times.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, writing for the majority, emphasized that ghost gun kits are designed for combat and should be regulated as firearms. He included photos of Polymer80’s “Buy Build Shoot” kit, illustrating how it contains everything needed to assemble a Glock-style pistol in under 30 minutes. “No one would confuse this pistol with a tool or a toy,” Gorsuch wrote, pushing back against claims that the kits were harmless hobbyist projects.
The ruling is a significant victory for the Biden administration, which tightened ghost gun regulations in 2022 after law enforcement agencies reported a surge in their use in crimes.
Crime-related use increases tenfold
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), crime-related use of these kits increased tenfold in the six years leading up to the rule change.
However, the decision was met with dissent from Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, who argued that the federal government had overstepped its authority.
Justice Thomas contended that the kits themselves do not meet the legal definition of firearms under the 1968 Gun Control Act, stating, “The ordinary meaning of ‘weapon’ does not include weapon-parts kits.”
The case, Bondi v. VanDerStok, revolved around whether the ATF had the power to regulate these kits. Gun rights groups argued that most crimes still involve traditional firearms and that ghost guns are primarily used by hobbyists.
The Court rejected this argument, with Chief Justice John Roberts comparing ghost gun kits to IKEA furniture—“Their intended function is clear, even if some assembly is required.”
Instrument of combat
Justice Gorsuch echoed this sentiment, likening ghost gun kits to a partially written novel or an unassembled table—“Yes, perhaps a half-hour of work is required before anyone can fire a shot. But even as sold, the kit comes with all necessary components, and its intended function as an instrument of combat is obvious.”
Despite recent rulings that expanded gun rights, this decision underscores that even a conservative-majority Court is not entirely opposed to firearm regulations. While ghost guns may not disappear, their era of anonymity appears to be over.
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Business NewsNewsUs NewsUS Supreme Court upholds Biden’s crackdown on ghost guns—serial numbers & checks now a must
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First Published
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26 Mar 2025, 11:29 PM IST
