"Criminals Can Also Get Them Within 30 Minutes, Ghost Gun Kits Are Guns" Biden Announces Full-Scale Regulation

by Cho Seulkina

Published 12 Apr.2022 07:32(KST)

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] "(It doesn't take that long to assemble. Anyone can order it by mail. Anyone."

The Joe Biden administration in the United States has declared full-scale regulation on so-called 'Ghost Guns,' which anyone can buy parts for online and assemble themselves. This move comes in response to ghost guns, which have been cited as a major factor behind the recent surge in gun crimes in the U.S., falling into a regulatory blind spot.

According to The Hill and others, on the 11th (local time), President Biden showcased a ghost gun assembly kit sold on the internet during a public address at the White House, stating, "Criminals, terrorists, and domestic abusers can obtain a firearm from a gun kit within 30 minutes," and announced measures to regulate ghost guns. He also appointed Steve Dettelbach, a former federal prosecutor, as the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which will lead these gun control efforts.

Ghost guns are not a new phenomenon. The firearm used in the 2013 shooting incident on a campus in California was a ghost gun assembled from parts. Ghost guns were also used in the 2019 Santa Clarita high school shooting. According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, last year, 24,000 ghost guns were found at crime scenes in the U.S., nearly ten times the number from five years earlier in 2016. The New York Police Department (NYPD) has discovered 131 untraceable firearms without serial numbers just this year.

The main problem with ghost guns is that criminals can easily purchase firearms without background checks, and they are difficult to trace. President Biden said, "Even if you have to assemble a sofa after buying it, it’s still a sofa; similarly, ordering a gun assembly kit is equivalent to purchasing a gun," and announced that ghost guns will be subject to the same regulations as fully assembled firearms.

Under U.S. federal law, firearm manufacturers must mark guns with serial numbers, and buyers must undergo background checks. However, ghost guns are currently classified as mere parts rather than firearms, so they are not subject to any regulations. This structure makes it easy for convicted criminals or those prohibited from owning guns to access them. Because ghost guns lack serial numbers, the Biden administration cannot even estimate the scale of ghost guns circulating among civilians.

The newly announced ghost gun regulations require serial numbers to be assigned to parts such as pistol frames, and sales of parts must be conducted by licensed dealers who verify the buyer’s identity. This applies not only to gun assembly kits but also to parts produced via 3D printing. Additionally, reselling ghost guns will require serial numbers, and dealers must conduct background checks on firearms.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

These gun regulations were also part of President Biden’s campaign promises. He has repeatedly stated official gun control policies, calling gun violence a pandemic and an international embarrassment.

In particular, this regulatory proposal is seen as a message to strengthen public safety amid a surge in various crimes centered in major cities following the COVID-19 pandemic. With the midterm elections coming up in November, President Biden cannot ignore the public’s anxiety caused by recent repeated gun crimes. Rising crime rates directly impact voter sentiment. The Washington Post (WP) evaluated this as "a counterattack launched while Republicans criticize the Biden administration and Democrats for being soft on crime."

However, there are many hurdles for ghost gun regulations to overcome. The announced regulations will take effect 120 days after being published in the Federal Register. But lawsuits from gun groups and associations are expected immediately. The National Rifle Association (NRA) promptly issued a statement opposing the measures. There are also ongoing criticisms that gun control infringes on constitutional rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment, which recognizes the right to bear arms. The Hill reported that "Congress has been deadlocked for 10 years over gun law reform legislation."

Local media also reported that the appointment of Steve Dettelbach as ATF director will be a tough battle. Previously, President Biden nominated David Chipman, a gun control advocate, as ATF director, but he had to withdraw due to opposition from Republicans and some Democrats.