Overview

• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 to uphold a Biden administration regulation requiring ghost gun kits to comply with federal firearm laws, including serial numbers, background checks, and licensing for manufacturers.
• The decision reverses lower court rulings that invalidated the ATF's 2022 rule, affirming the agency's authority under the Gun Control Act of 1968.
• Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, emphasized that ghost gun kits meet the statutory definition of firearms due to their ability to be readily converted into functional weapons.
• Law enforcement data shows a sharp rise in crimes involving ghost guns, with over 19,000 recovered in 2021, prompting the regulation to address their untraceable nature.
• Dissenting justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito argued that the ATF exceeded its authority by expanding the definition of firearms to include weapon parts kits.