California Attorney General Rob Bonta has expressed his support following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld a rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concerning ghost guns. The court's 7-2 decision supports the ATF's rule that took effect in August 2022, which classifies weapon parts kits and certain partially complete frames and receivers as "firearms" under the Gun Control Act of 1968.
This classification means that manufacturers and dealers are required to keep records, conduct background checks, and serialize these items to prevent their acquisition by criminals or others prohibited from possessing firearms. The rule aims to impose these requirements on weapon parts kits and partially complete frames and receivers used to assemble ghost guns.
Attorney General Bonta remarked, "This decision is not only a victory for California but for the entire nation." He praised the Biden Administration's efforts in addressing ghost guns: "I was proud to support the Biden Administration’s efforts to protect Americans from deadly ghost guns and am glad to see this SCOTUS ruling today."
Bonta highlighted California's experience with gun-safety laws: "In the state of California, we have seen firsthand the effectiveness of our commonsense gun-safety laws, and I am hopeful that similar laws are going to be implemented nationwide." He emphasized the importance of regulating ghost guns: "Ghost guns not only leave law enforcement in the dark but also put our communities at risk. This federal rule is crucial to keeping ghost guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals and critical to preventing and solving violent, firearm-related crimes."
The court order and opinion regarding this decision are available for public viewing.