For the first time since 1968, the Department of Justice ‘s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is seeking to update the legal definition of …
For the first time since 1968, the Department of Justice ‘s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is seeking to update the legal definition of firearm in an effort to crack down on « ghost guns. » The proposed rule seeks to redefine « frame or receiver » as well as classify more firearm kits as « complete » firearms, making them subject to more regulation and oversight. It also seeks to legally define terms such as « complete muffler or silencer device » as well as « privately made firearms. » The proposed rule targets 3D gun printing. « Technological advances have also made it easier for unlicensed persons to make firearms at home from standalone parts or weapon parts kits, or by using 3D printers or personally owned or leased equipment, without any records or a background check. Commonly referred to as ‘ghost guns,’ these privately made firearms (‘PMFs’), when made for personal use, are not required by the [Gun Control Act of 1968] to have a serial number placed on the frame or receiver, making it difficult for law enforcement to determine where, by whom, or when they were manufactured, and to whom they were sold or otherwise disposed, » the proposed rule states. National Association for Gun Rights President Dudley Brown said the proposed rule « is a slap in the face to the millions of law-abiding Americans who have built their own firearms at home.
