In a significant ruling, the US Supreme Court has upheld new rules regulating ghost guns, backing a key gun control policy by the Biden administration. The 7-2 decision means tighter control over homemade firearms, which are difficult to trace and have been linked to rising crime.
This is a surprising move from a conservative-majority court that has mostly leaned against gun regulations in the past.
What Are Ghost Guns?
Ghost guns are firearms that can be assembled at home using kits or 3D printing. These guns do not have serial numbers, making them nearly untraceable by law enforcement.
The kits are easy to buy online, and with a few tools and video tutorials, almost anyone can build a working firearm. That’s why many law enforcement officials and advocacy groups call ghost guns the fastest-growing threat to gun safety in the United States.
What Does the New Rule Say?
The Biden administration introduced these rules in 2022. Under the new policy:
- Manufacturers must include serial numbers on gun kits.
- Background checks must be done before selling these kits.
- Sellers must keep official sales records, just like regular gun dealers.
These rules are meant to stop people from easily building guns without any check on who they are.
What Did the Court Say?
In the 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court said that these rules are valid. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who is known for his conservative views, wrote the opinion for the majority.
He pointed out how simple it is to assemble these weapons:
“Perhaps a half hour of work is required before anyone can fire a shot,” he said. “Really, the kit’s name says it all: ‘Buy Build Shoot’.”
Why Is This Important?
According to gun safety groups, the use of ghost guns in crimes has gone up by over 1,000% since 2017. These weapons have been recovered from many crime scenes, including high-profile cases.
One major example is the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, was allegedly found with a ghost gun — a black pistol that had no serial number.
What Did the Biden Administration Argue?
Government lawyers said ghost gun kits must be treated like traditional guns because:
- They can be quickly turned into deadly weapons.
- They are used in violent crimes.
- They bypass existing gun laws, creating a loophole.
They insisted that the same rules must apply, including checks, records, and serial numbers.
What Do Gun Rights Groups Say?
Gun rights organisations challenged the new rules, saying they go beyond the legal powers of the federal government. They argued that the 1968 Gun Control Act was not meant to cover unfinished gun parts or do-it-yourself kits.
What’s Next?
While this is a major win for gun safety advocates, the future of these regulations remains uncertain. Donald Trump, who is expected to focus on gun laws if re-elected, signed an order in February 2025 asking the Attorney General to review Biden-era gun rules.
If Trump returns to office, the policy could be revised or reversed depending on his administration’s stance on gun rights vs gun safety.