The U.S. Supreme Court issues two contradictory rulings on the regulation of “ghost guns,” with significant implications for firearm legislation. In a 7-2 decision in Bondi v. VanDerStok, the Court upholds the government’s authority to regulate ghost guns under the Gun Control Act, emphasizing Congress’s intention to restrict access to firearms that can be easily constructed from parts. This contrasts sharply with last year’s Garland v. Cargill ruling, where the Court invalidated an ATF regulation regarding bump stocks, suggesting a potential inconsistency in the Court’s interpretation of gun control measures.
The ruling in VanDerStok highlights a stark increase in ghost guns traced by law enforcement—from 1,600 in 2017 to over 19,000 in 2021—pointing to a growing public safety concern. Justice Neil Gorsuch’s majority opinion stresses that the definitions within the Gun Control Act should reflect the reality of evolving firearm technologies, including 3D-printed components. The conflicting decisions underscore the challenges federal agencies face in regulating firearms amid changing technologies and interpretations, raising urgent questions about the broader future of gun control in the United States.
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