White House warns of ‘ghost guns’ during Supreme Court oral arguments – Washington Examiner
The White House has expressed concerns regarding “ghost guns,” emphasizing their potential dangers and the administration’s legal authority to regulate them as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the matter. Biden administration spokeswoman Emilie Simons highlighted that ghost guns are often used by traffickers due to their untraceable nature and availability without background checks—pointing out a dramatic rise in ghost gun reports to the ATF, from roughly 2,000 cases in 2017 to about 20,000 in 2021. In light of the Supreme Court’s impending decision, reporters have inquired about alternative plans to combat the spread of these firearms. Simons affirmed the administration’s commitment to curbing the illegal manufacture and sale of ghost gun kits and reiterated support for the Justice Department’s efforts in this regard.
White House warns of ‘ghost guns’ during Supreme Court oral arguments
The White House reiterated the dangers of “ghost guns” and its legal authority to regulate them ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on the issue.
“We know ghost guns are the weapon of choice for many gun traffickers,” Biden administration spokeswoman Emilie Simons told reporters aboard Air Force One. “They are very difficult for law enforcement to trace and are available without a background check. In 2021, there were approximately 20,000 suspected ghost guns reported to the ATF. That’s a 1,000% increase compared to 2017.”
The statement came in response to a question from the Washington Examiner’s Christian Datoc.
“Does the president [Joe Biden] have a Plan B to stop the proliferation of ghost guns and other related technology should the Supreme Court rule against them?” Datoc asked.
“Our administration remains committed to stopping the illegal manufacture and sale of kits and parts that can easily be made into functional ghost guns,” Simons said. “We stand by the Justice Department’s rulemaking to do this.”
The high court appears ready to uphold a federal regulation on ghost guns following oral arguments in a case challenging the regulation on Tuesday.
The case, VanDerStok v. Garland, centers on the legality of a 2022 rule from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that treats “readily convertible” ghost gun kits like regular firearms, subjecting them to serial number requirements and background checks.
During Tuesday’s oral arguments, a majority of justices seemed inclined to support the ATF’s position.
The eventual ruling could have significant implications for future firearm regulations and the limits of federal agency authority. A decision is expected by the end of the term in June.
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