Chicago – March 26, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a rule from former President Joe Biden’s administration aimed at controlling “ghost guns,” which are untraceable firearms that have been used in many crimes across the country. The court ruled 7-2, agreeing that the rule follows a 1968 law about firearms.
The rule, created by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), was challenged by several gun owners and rights groups who argued that the ATF did not have the power to issue it. The Supreme Court disagreed, saying that the ATF was within its rights to create the rule.
Ghost guns are often sold in kits online, which people can quickly put together at home. These guns don’t have serial numbers, making it hard for authorities to trace them, and no background checks are required for buyers. This makes them popular among people who are not allowed to buy regular guns.
The Supreme Court’s ruling was praised by gun safety groups, who said it would help protect public safety. The rule requires gun kit makers to add serial numbers to their products, get licenses, and run background checks on buyers—just like regular gun manufacturers must do.
Gun rights groups, however, had filed a lawsuit in Texas to block the rule. Despite their efforts, the Supreme Court’s decision means the rule will remain in place, regulating ghost guns under the 1968 Gun Control Act.
