PITTSBURGH, PA (December 17, 2020) The City of Pittsburgh has joined 10 other cities nationwide to call for the need for the federal government’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to regulate “ghost guns”. The 11 cities have signed on to an amicus brief in support of ongoing litigation seeking for the ATF to appropriately regulate ghost guns under federal law.
Ghost guns are unfinished frames and receivers that are available for purchase, sometimes in kits, that can easily be transformed into fully operational firearms. Since they are not assembled as guns at the time of sale, they are not currently subject to the same regulatory firearm requirements like having a serial number and required background checks for prospective owners.
Cities around the country have seen an increase in the use of ghost guns in preventable gun crimes and violence. Ghost gun sales provide a loophole for individuals who, by federal standards, are not permitted to own firearms since purchasers are not required to complete a background check. They also present barriers to public safety investigations and prosecutions.
“The cities lending their support for this litigation are not asking for anything unreasonable. Firearms regulations should be applied to all guns, including ghost guns,” said Mayor William Peduto. “It’s unfair to those who comply with regulations- regulations that exist to protect the safety of our communities. We just ask that the ATF apply these rules to all gun sales.”
Pittsburgh was joined in their support by Columbus, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Durham, North Carolina; Hartford, Connecticut; Los Angeles, California; New York, New York; Paterson, New Jersey; Providence, Rhode Island; Rochester, New York; and Seattle, Washington.
