In a significant victory for gun control advocates, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key Biden administration policy aimed at regulating so-called “ghost guns.” These untraceable firearms, which can be assembled at home from kits, have been linked to a surge in gun-related crimes across the country.
The 7-2 ruling by supreme Court on Wednesday represents a departure from the court’s traditionally conservative stance on gun laws. The decision affirms the federal government’s authority to regulate gun kits, requiring manufacturers to include serial numbers and conduct background checks on purchasers. In the court’s opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch remarked on the ease with which these kits can be turned into functioning firearms, stating: “Perhaps a half hour of work is required before anyone can fire a shot. Really, the kit’s name says it all: ‘Buy Build Shoot’.”
Ghost Guns: A Growing Threat to Public Safety
Advocacy groups and law enforcement agencies have long warned that ghost guns represent one of the fastest-growing gun violence threats in the U.S. Unlike traditional firearms, these weapons lack serial numbers, making them nearly impossible to trace.
According to federal reports, the number of ghost guns recovered at crime scenes has surged by over 1,000% since 2017. They gained national attention in December 2024, when UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York. Authorities later revealed that the suspect, Luigi Mangione, had used a ghost gun in the attack. The case underscored the growing concern among policymakers about the accessibility of these weapons.
The Biden administration implemented new regulations in 2022 to curb the spread of ghost guns, tightening access to weapon kits and imposing stricter oversight. These measures were introduced in response to growing concerns from law enforcement that the easy availability of these kits was fueling violent crime.
Legal Challenges and the Supreme Court’s Decision
The National Rifle Association (NRA) and other gun rights advocates challenged the Biden administration’s rules, arguing that the government had overstepped its authority in regulating firearm kits. At the heart of the legal battle was the question of whether a 1968 law—the Gun Control Act—should apply to ghost guns. This law requires gun manufacturers to include serial numbers on firearms and conduct background checks on buyers.
The Biden administration maintained that ghost gun kits should be treated as firearms under this law, given how easily they can be assembled into fully functional weapons. Government lawyers argued that “anyone with basic tools and access to internet video tutorials can assemble a functional firearm quickly and easily,” making the regulation of these kits crucial for public safety.
Despite the Supreme Court’s conservative majority, only two justices dissented in the case. The decision signals a rare instance in which the court has upheld a gun control measure, deviating from previous rulings that expanded gun rights.
Political Implications and the Road Ahead
The Supreme Court’s ruling is a major victory for President Joe Biden, who has made tackling gun violence a key priority of his administration. Biden has repeatedly called for stronger gun control measures, often facing fierce resistance from Republicans and gun rights organizations.
However, the ruling may not put an end to the ghost gun debate. . In February, Trump issued an executive order directing the Attorney General to review Biden’s gun control policies, a move widely seen as an attempt to ease restrictions on firearm ownership.
Impact of supreme Court ruling on Gun Laws and Law Enforcement
The Supreme Court’s decision could have far-reaching consequences for how firearms are regulated in the U.S. Moving forward, ghost gun kits will be treated as firearms under federal law, meaning manufacturers must serialize the parts and conduct background checks before selling them.
For law enforcement agencies, the ruling provides a significant tool in tackling gun-related crimes. Officers have long struggled to trace ghost guns used in shootings, making it difficult to track down perpetrators. With serial numbers now required, authorities will have a better chance of linking these weapons to crimes and holding criminals accountable.
Gun safety advocates have welcomed the ruling, calling it a crucial step in preventing firearms from falling into the wrong hands. However, gun rights groups are expected to continue challenging the regulations in lower courts, setting the stage for further legal battles in the coming years.
As the debate over gun control continues, the Supreme Court’s decision marks a pivotal moment in the fight against unregulated firearms, reinforcing the federal government’s authority to implement stricter gun safety measures
