SCOTUS Upholds Ghost Gun Ban

The U.S. Supreme court issued a ruling today upholding a Biden administration effort to regulate so-called "Ghost guns." The ruling was 7-2 with justice Neil Gorsuch writing the majority opinion. The case centered on whether "Ghost gun" kits can be regulated the same way as other firearms. Those kits can be assembled by consumers using some 3-d printed parts, and are untraceable. The regulation, which has been in effect since 2022, requires manufacturers and sellers to obtain licenses, mark products with serial numbers, and require background checks. Issued by the federal bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives, the regulation includes ghost guns within the definition of a "Firearm" as described in the gun control act, a long-standing federal law that regulates the sale of guns. Those challenging the regulation claim the ATF did not have the authority to unilaterally apply the gun control act to the kits. The supreme court did not agree with that argument. Although the case does concern gun regulations, it did not involve legal questions relating to the right to bear arms under the constitution's second amendment.