The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld federal restrictions aimed at reducing access to kits that can be easily assembled into homemade, almost untraceable firearms.
In a 7-2 decision written by Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, one of the court's conservatives, the judiciary left the requirements enacted during the Biden administration as part of a broader effort to combat gun violence by setting restrictions on so-called ghost guns.
The ruling in favour of gun control was the resignation of the court, which itself showed skepticism of both administrative authority and gun control. The two conservative justices of Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas each challenged.
The Biden administration enacted rules in 2022 that would tighten access to weapons kits after law enforcement reported that ghost guns had exploded in popularity and were being used to commit serious crimes.
The Bureau of Alcohol, cigarettes, firearms and explosives estimated that the use of gun parts and kits in crime would increase by 10 times six years before the rules were adopted.
Some regulations require vendors and gun manufacturers to obtain licenses for kit sales, mandating the serial number of components to allow tracking of the guns, and adding a buyer's background check.
Gun rights groups accused the government of the government of regulating gun kits because it did not meet the definition of firearms under the Gun Control Act of 1968, and thus crossed its boundaries.
Opponents of gun control claimed that most people who purchased the kit were enthusiasts, not criminals. In its legal filing, the group argued that the majority of firearms used in the crime are professionally manufactured traditional weapons.
Insisting in October while President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was still in office, government lawyers said gun kits should be regulated as “firearms.”
During the oral debate, the majority of judges appeared to support the implementation of the rules, along with at least two conservatives, Judges John G. Roberts Jr. and Amy Coney Barrett.
The judge wrestled with the best way to portray similarities with the gun kit. Supreme Court Justice Roberts appears to be skeptical of attempts by gun rights lawyers, saying that those who put together the kits look like amateur car enthusiasts, and that kits need far less effort to put them together.
“Digit a hole or two,” Chief Roberts said, “We don't give you the same kind of rewards that you work in your car over the weekend.”
Other justice compared to cooking. Judge Alito appeared to push back the idea that gun kits could be counted as firearms. He was similar to cooking an omelette in a question to a government lawyer.
Similarly, when do gun components actually become firearms?
“If I show you – I served some eggs, some chopped ham, some chopped pepper and onions on the counter, is it a western omelet?” Judge Alito asked.
