The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating on whether the Biden administration exceeded its authority by setting regulations for kits that can be assembled into untraceable firearms. The rule issued by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in 2022 expanded the definition of “firearms” to include “ghost guns” under federal law. These ghost guns lack serial numbers and can be easily purchased online and assembled in parts, making them attractive to criminals.
The Biden administration argues that the regulation is necessary to combat the increasing use of untraceable guns in crimes and to keep firearms out of the hands of minors, felons, and domestic abusers. The regulation requires manufacturers of firearm kits to add a serial number to the products and conduct background checks on buyers. The administration is urging the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court’s decision that favored gun rights groups.
During the hearing, justices questioned whether the kits were considered weapons and debated the intention behind selling incomplete gun parts to hobbyists. The Biden administration argued that the evidence shows these kits are being used in crimes rather than by hobbyists. The opposition claimed that hobbyists enjoy putting together their own firearms and that the regulation infringes on their rights.
The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the regulation of ghost guns and the balance between gun rights and public safety. The Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether the Biden administration’s rule is a necessary measure to address the issue of untraceable firearms or an overreach of federal authority.
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