President Joe Biden will announce new firearms regulations on Monday to curb the use of privately-made guns, also known as ghost guns , according to people familiar with the matter.
Regulations against “ghost weapons”
The so-called “ghost gun” rule would classify the components used to make them, such as frames or receivers, as “firearms,” addressing a critical gap in the government’s ability to trace them.
- Biden is also considering appointing Steve Dettelbach, a former Ohio prosecutor, to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in an announcement that could come as soon as this month.
- Biden’s previous nominee was forced to withdraw amid opposition from the Senate.
- The measures come at a time when gun violence and crime have increased in the United States, putting pressure on the White House to take action.
- Biden is expected to address the new gun measures at a public event Monday afternoon.
- The White House declined to comment on the new measures, which were described by three people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly. Dettelbach did not respond to a request for comment.
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What does the regulation on the control of ghost weapons stipulate?
The rule will require that manufacturers selling parts to assemble ghost guns be licensed and that background checks be conducted on potential purchasers of the kits used to assemble the products.
- The Justice Department has also launched a National Ghost Weapons Enforcement Initiative, which will “train a national group of prosecutors and disseminate investigative and prosecution tools to help prosecute those who use ghost weapons to commit crimes.” crimes,” according to the White House.
- Phantom weapons have been used in multiple recent shootings, including the one at a Maryland high school in January.
- The exact number in circulation is unknown, given the inability of regulators to track them.
- Several states have taken steps to restrict their sale, as ghost guns are becoming more common at crime scenes.
- Last week, Maryland joined Washington DC and 10 other states – California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington – in banning or restricting the purchase or use of bogus weapons. , which are often purchased online and assembled at home.