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Amid rise of gun violence, Biden unveils 'basic common sense' regulations targeting ghost guns

WASHINGTON – Calling them "basic common sense," President Joe Biden took steps Monday to rein in the use of untraceable firearms known as ghost guns that law enforcement officers said turn up frequently at crime scenes.

Biden announced federal regulations that will target privately made firearms that can be assembled from do-it-yourself kits purchased online or in a store. The weapons lack serial numbers, which makes it difficult to trace the owner.

“These guns are weapons of choice for many criminals," Biden said in a Rose Garden ceremony attended by victims and families of gun violence. "We are going to do everything we can to deprive them of that choice and, when we find them, put them in jail for a long, long time.”

The rules, which have been in the works for nearly a year, will clarify that the unfinished parts sold in the gun kits, such as the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun, will qualify as firearms under federal law.

Commercial manufacturers of the kits will have to be licensed and must add serial numbers on the kits’ frame or receiver. Commercial sellers of the kits will have to become licensed and will be required to run background checks on potential buyers before a sale, just like they must do with commercially made firearms.

In a related move, Biden announced that he is nominating Steve Dettelbach, a former U.S. attorney from Ohio, to serve as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The federal agency, known as the ATF, is responsible for enforcing the nation’s gun laws.

UNREGISTERED, UNTRACEABLE:Ghost guns leave police investigations in the dark, report finds

Biden withdrew his first nominee for the job, gun control advocate David Chipman, in September after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.

Biden’s decision to take aim at ghost guns comes amid growing concern about the rise of gun violence and increasing pressure from Democrats in Congress to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime.

The ATF proposed a rule last May that would change the federal definition of a firearm to include the parts used to make ghost guns. The rule has been making its way through the federal regulatory process for nearly a year. Monday's announcement noted that the agency issued the final rule.

In addition to the new regulations, Biden called on Congress to ban the sale and possession of ghost guns.

Biden’s actions are likely to face strong resistance from the gun lobby.

Even before the regulations were announced, gun rights group Gun Owners of America said Sunday it would immediately sue to halt the new rules, which it said violate the Second Amendment. Aidan Johnston, the group’s director of federal affairs, accused Biden of trying to create a national gun registry and end the online sale of gun parts without passage of a law.

The group called on Congress to block the implementation of the rule by using the Congressional Review Act, which allows lawmakers to overturn rules issued by federal agencies.

Gun control advocates praised the regulations.

“Ghost guns look like a gun, they shoot like a gun, and they kill like a gun, but up until now, they haven’t been regulated like a gun,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, which pushes for gun control and against gun violence.

Feinblatt applauded the administration “for doubling down on its commitment to gun safety by taking action to rein in ghost guns and nominating an ATF director who will end its culture of complicity with the gun industry.”

Law enforcement officials have expressed concern about the rise in use of ghost guns in crimes. Last year, about 20,000 ghost guns were recovered in criminal investigations, a tenfold increase from 2016, the Justice Department said.

As the number of crimes involving ghost guns has jumped in several parts of the USA, some states, such as California, have enacted laws to require serial numbers to be stamped on firearms. Some municipalities have filed lawsuits and other legal challenges that accuse manufacturers of violating laws and undermining law enforcement.

Mia Tretta, who was wounded more than two years ago in a school shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, introduced Biden at Monday's event. Tretta called the new rules "lifesaving" and noted that the weapon used to shoot her and kill two students was a ghost gun.

"Now, finally, we have a president who realizes that thoughts and prayers alone are not enough," she said.

The regulations include steps to put serial numbers on ghost guns already in circulation.

The Justice Department will require licensed dealers and gunsmiths taking any unserialized firearm into inventory to add a serial number to that weapon.

For example, if someone builds a firearm at home, then sells it to a pawnbroker or another licensed dealer, that dealer must add a serial number to the weapon before selling it to a customer. The requirement will apply regardless of how the firearm was made, whether it’s assembled from individual parts, kits or by 3D printers.

Licensed firearms dealers will be required to keep records until they shut down their business. The records then must be transferred to the ATF. Previously, dealers were permitted to destroy most records after 20 years.

Biden called the regulations "an important step" and noted that when a serial number is added to a gun, "all of a sudden, it's no longer a ghost."

"That's going to help save lives, reduce crime and get more criminals off the streets," he said.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...-tobacco-firearms-explosives/9536498002/


Well it's a start.

Biden shouldn't be trusted with our guns.

He may hurt himself.

Where were the gun toting Americans when it recent weeks a bunch of people were killed or injured by wackos with Guns..

You know, the ones the NRA says should have guns...

Let's be honest here,, we don't agree on many things, but I don't think you are an idiot. I don't believe for one second that you want unstable people, Felons and other criminals to own guns...

As for Ghost Guns,, I'm at a bit of a loss, i'm not sure what they are.

Biden is an ignorant fool when it comes to guns. Here's some of his "common sense".

So, a block of polymer or aluminum has to have a serial number and it requires an FFL to sell, now?

The whole thing is silly and won't accomplish much of anything. They DO realize that it is 100% legal to manufacture a firearm at home for personal use without having to add a serial number or register it as long as it isn't for resale, right?

They are boobs. Always after guns but not much in the way of going after criminals.

It doesn't matter much to me. Once this idiot is out of office all of his "orders" will be reversed.

IMO, this is overthinking things. "Ghost guns" are not 'blocks of aluminum' or polymer that you need to figure out how to machine yourself. They're machined already and you have to drill/punch a hole out or something and you have a stripped receiver.

That said, I could've just as easily made this post as a response to the 'double-barrel shotgun' video above and written about how these clown will absolutely/guaranteed somehow mess this up.

They spend too much time looking at the bear scat in the woods and not spending more time to notice the bear is looking at them.

Yes, but this is America, you would struggle to find people capable of that here.

Not entirely correct. An 80% lower has the entire trigger well, and often the magazine well, filled solid and it requires machining/work to change that. What you start with is something shaped like a lower, and you can buy a separate template to guide you on drilling holes, but you have real work to do in order to open up that trigger well and mag well so that it can properly accept parts. True, it ain't rocket surgery by any means, but it's just a tad bit more than "only have to drill a few holes". What made them legal i. The way they were is that they were 100% incapable of functioning as part of a firearm without heavy modification.

More laws, that as with the rest of them, only truly affect the "law abiding" citizens.

Reading some of these posts reminds me that the NRA has NO plan to control who gets a gun... NONE.. But they are quick to beat on any attempt by anyone else that wants to keep certain guns out of the hands of those that any rational person would figure shouldn't have one.. Funny how that works

What tools do you need (in general) to get one of those to a lower that will accept everything? Hand tools, or a mill? My understanding is that pretty much any moron that can follow a simple set of directions could get up and running this way, so I'd be genuinely interested to hear if that actually wasn't the case.

And exactly who do you suggest makes the decision on which Americans can own a gun and which ones cannot?

You're acting as if the NRA is a branch of the government. They can't legislate or control who gets a gun.


They are there to assist in the protection of 2A rights of lawful gun owners. Their purpose isn't to support or promote gun control measures.

I don't find it surprising that there are a certain segment of people that refuse to support a simple measure intended to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Amy law abiding citizen can still legally purchase these type of guns. It has zero impact on someone who doesn't have a criminal record from obtaining a hand gun or any other gun for that matter. It's only being established to make it harder for criminals to have guns.

I know the excuse. "It really won't help because criminals can still get guns on the street." Which is the same as saying we shouldn't do all we can to stop criminals from getting guns. So since this won't stop all of it, we shouldn't do anything to try and stop it or at least cut down on it happening seems to be the mantra. This topic is a prime example of the difference between of us who support the 2nd amendment along with sensible gun laws and the gun nuts.

The extremism this topic shows is a prime example as to why some of you are your own worst enemy in the fight for your own gun rights.

No, that's pretty much it, but that's the case whether the outside has been pre-shaped like a lower or not. You could literally do the *exact* same thing with a solid rectangular block of metal or polymer, and yes, just hand tools or basic home power tools and some files. I mean, how do you think the very first firearms were made??

Guns are NOT complicated machines and they do not require extravagant techniques and skills to construct. They are simple machines with a limited number of moving parts. You're shaping basic metal. That's it. Fancy tools like mills only buy you speed and ease of consistent reproduction of effort... they generally don't actually do anything you can't do by hand.

IMO, there's a big difference (with plenty of grey area, but still) between possible and "for mass consumption".

IMO, something that requires the user to operate an end mill is probably not "for mass consumption". Starting from a solid block of aluminum and ending as a stripped lower is definitely not "for mass consumption". I'm on my work computer right now so I'm not going to do internet research. I'll try to take a look later tonight... I'm wondering if I have a different understanding of the topic than reality.

i'm in the same boat. But, making moonshine is also illegal. So, I'm also ok with them requiring a serial number.

at the end of the day... felons etc can get their hands on a stolen handgun probably easier than making their own.

At the end of the day, bad people will break laws and do bad things no matter what.

Then they just aren't that bright. If they were, they would understand that one of the best ways to "assist in the protection of 2A rights of lawful gun owners" would be to cooperate in finding ways to keep guns out of the hands of UNLAWFUL gun owners, to find ways to reduce or eliminate the large scale shooting events, etc. They would understand that the best way to protect gun rights for the law abiding is to REDUCE gun violence, thus removing the argument for greater gun control laws and even more intrusion into gun owners rights. But they are doing the opposite, creating laws that make it easier, not harder, for people to obtain and carry guns with absolutely zero checks and balances...

Well, for starters, at no level is a mill REQUIRED. I think you completely underestimate just how easily aluminum can be worked by hand with extreme (machinist) precision. It isn't difficult at all, it just requires patience. Backyard casting of aluminum into blocks is also extremely trivial. In fact, the only complicated part of it is de-gassing so that you get a good, solid casting. Now you're hand crafting lowers from beer cans. Literally. Absolutely none of it is difficult, at all. Absolutely none of it is hidden knowledge. You need to know how to build a fire and use basic hand tools... that's it. The value of the 80% lowers is they take care of the things like already having finished the edges/faces that will mate up with things like slides and springs.... but, the purchaser still has to hog out plenty of material and do lots of hand finish work to make it functional with good fitments.

Hell, even kitchen anodizing is pretty simple, and easy to get set up with just a quick YouTube video or two.

These aren't complicated machines, and they aren't difficult to manufacture parts. When you buy an 80%, you're just saving time and getting some assurance that some thing like slides/rails will line up for the design you are finishing the lower for. That's it. Nothing more. You are not bypassing anything but a time investment.

What the REAL issue with them is that anti-gun politicians and activists are pissed that they are a 100% legal way for people to build a gun. They're simpler. Easier. And since every person in this nation is already ALLOWED to manufacture any number of guns for themselves, what it amounts to is that they dislike the idea that don't get to track/trace and try to control every aspect of them. It is, very literally, a control issue, and it is one with little basis.

The serial number on a gun is tied to the lower. This is inherently stupid. They claim they're left in the dark on crimes because these guns don't have serial numbers.... how the hell are they going to track a serial number when all of the forensic ballistics has to do with the barrel? Barrels can be swapped as easy as cleaning you weapon. Thus, the forensic signature of a firearm can be swapped/changed, but they still focus on the plastic/metal that holds all of the parts. They don't focus on receivers, firing pins, or barrels... the things that actually make a gun a gun. So, ALL of this issue is a complete load of garbage from top to bottom. NONE of it has anything to do with anything other than people who do not understand the issue, and firearms in general, are upset that people are able to do things without them controlling it. Period.

Think about it.... you're gonna force me to put a serial number on a lower because you want to trace it in a crime.... but, you're going to trace the barrel. You're never going to see a serial on the lower unless the person throws the gun away. You're never going to trace a barrel back to a lower because how do you know what barrel is in what lower?

It nothing but control freaks trying to control what they have no understanding of.

To be clear, I'm no fan of the NRA. They've gone the way of the republican party with their mismanagement and power structure, and they're probably not going to be around much longer due to their financial troubles. I am no longer a member. But the NRA is not responsible for gun violence, and they do not create laws. It's the purpose of law enforcement, not the NRA to keep guns out of the hands of criminals or reduce large scale shooting events. The NRA focus is on contesting any legislation that would infringe on the right to bear arms. Personally, I disagree with them when they speak against education requirements and background checks. The NRA does have the best educational programs around in terms of gun safety and firearms training, and I think they ought to push those programs.

1. Completely agree on which component they chose to serialize. I'm fairly pro-2A. My wife is... not. I went through the trouble of putting together a rifle when I was still living in CA. I started with a stripped lower receiver... so you can imagine my wife's disappointment (for lack of a better word) when after going through all the hoop-jumping-through to become a firearm owner and owner of a murder-death-machine (semi-auto rifle) when I come home with a single, solid piece of milled aluminum. It was then that my wife started to understand how non-sensical our gun laws are, and how pointless it would be, from a logical perspective, to keep layering laws on top of what we have.


But back to this specific topic. IMO, if one of the goals is to serialize all guns (which IMO makes some sense), and we have to work within the legal framework we already have, then going after 80% lowers is actually pretty logical. Why would one opt to purchase an 80% vs a finished, stripped lower? To me, the only reason to do that would be to skirt around the process of acquiring said component.

You also state that it's "not hard" to make a lower out of beer cans. Ok, if someone is so inclined to do so, then let them feel the full weight of the law if/when that gun gets the attention of law enforcement.

That's precisely the point.... the full weight of the law in that case is completely weightless. There is absolutely zero that is illegal or shady in doing it. You can go tell the cops you're doing it and all they can say is "don't sell it without serializing it".
That's it. That is the letter of the law. Go ahead and make all the lowers you want and don't tell anyone.... it's 1000% legal. BUT, if you want to purchase an incomplete lower, now THAT is a problem.

See my point, now?

Probably not a thousand people in the country smart enough, skilled enough, or having the tools to make their own guns. But an almost illiterate country like Pakistan probably half the men in the country can make one. American's are far to removed from the self sufficient lifestyle to be making guns in their garage. Not when they are available everywhere at reasonable prices. But I 100% get what you are saying.

When it comes to this issue, I don't have a real problem. I don't think we need plastic guns.

Between federal and state laws, it's been claimed there are 20,000 laws on the books. I don't believe it is that many, but it could easily be 10% of that at minimum.

At some point it becomes clear that laws aren't the fix all answer to fixing the problem unless some feel the fix is to outlaw guns in total.

In the end it still takes a criminal mind with criminal intent to use a firearm illegally.

j/c

I'm still failing to see the point here. Every law abiding citizen can buy a gun. Ghost guns can easily be bought by criminals. They require no background checks or way of tracing them.. So why in the hell would law abiding citizens who can still buy guns be opposed to stopping a method which guns can be bought by criminals? It in no way stops your ability to buy a gun and ghosts guns are popping up in crimes more and more often.

The reason we have laws is not for the law abiding, it is for those that would pull some shenanigans, and then say... "Well there is no law against that" as a defense....

Human beings can be stupid or play the system as a defense. It is just that simple.

If that is the goal.

I don't think it is. If the laws restricted the criminals from buying them i might agree. I don't think many are buying them.

I'm not sure it's accurate to say that Biden is going after your guns.. In fact I think that's a complete misrepresentation of the facts..

Does he want to take these "plastic Guns" off the market,, yeah,, and with good reason..


I support Biden... But I would NOT support him if his goal was to take your guns away...

I would support TOUGHER Gun Control laws that keep guns out of the hands of those that documented Mental disorders or criminal records.. That I can get behind..

In Ohio now, it's easier to get a gun than it is to get a drivers license. That can't be what anyone with a brain wants.

As it should be. Owning a gun is a constitutional right!

Driving is a privilege, not a right.

Then the same constitutional logic would apply to voting. That has been a challenge of late for the GOP.

Remember that we have 4 amendments to enshrine/expand voting rights.

The thought of amending the constitution to address the poorly worded second amendment is unfathomable as it would address a problem.

I know Damanshot, it was a clickbait headline. Now, sit back and enjoy the show.

Indeed, but rights also come with responsibilities, much as is the case with privilege. I don't have a problem with reasonable requirements to owning a firearm just as I feel that there should be reasonable requirements when it comes to the right to vote.

Tell that to the parents of kids killed in High Schools and middle schools and Malls and Movie theaters and college campuses around the country... I'm sure that will ease the pain of loss.

Good answer.

Thanks, but it is the only answer. The problem on both sides, be it guns or voting is what is reasonable and what isn't.

And could you explain how banning ghost guns stops you or anyone else from legally purchasing a firearm? Or are you suggesting that we should make it easy for convicted felons to purchase firearms?

Nobody is suggesting that.

Try to go a day without playing your stupid games.

The consequences of actions are not stupid games. Anyone can order a ghost gun. Any criminal. Anyone who is not a convicted felon can buy a gun legally even if ghost guns are banned.

Factually it makes it easy for a convicted felon to buy a gun. In no way will banning the sale of ghost guns prevent anyone who is not a convicted felon from buying a gun.

If you consider stating the obvious a stupid game, that's a you problem.