Ghost Guns: JOINT STATEMENT OF COOK COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY EILEEN O’NEILL BURKE AND CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING
Chicago, IL—(ENEWSPF)—The message is simple: The federal government can regulate easily obtainable gun parts or ghost guns. It may do so the same way as firearms bought from specialist stores.
“We applaud today’s Supreme Court ruling upholding restrictions on ghost guns. They have become far more common over the past decade and led to significant loss of life in Chicago. These homemade firearms — which already are illegal in Illinois — can come from anywhere and are nearly impossible to trace, which hinders criminal investigations. For this reason, they are also popular with gangs who share weapons to commit multiple crimes and with dangerous individuals who are unable to purchase firearms legally.
“There is more work to be done. This includes combating the increased prevalence of illegal machine gun conversion devices, or ‘switches.’ These continue to cause so much harm in our communities. Today’s ruling reinforces a welcome tool and commonsense approach in the fight against gun crime.
“Lives will be saved as a result.”
Congresswoman Kelly Praises Decision
Congresswoman Robin Kelly praised the decision on her X/Twitter account:
GOOD NEWS: In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the federal ban on ghost guns.
— Robin Kelly (@RepRobinKelly) March 26, 2025
Ghost guns shoot and kill just like regular guns — except law enforcement couldn’t trace them.
Now, ghost guns require a serial number and background check.https://t.co/xyUDarKb2n
On the SCOTUS Decision from NBC:
The regulation, issued by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), includes ghost guns within the definition of “firearm” as described in the long-standing federal law that regulates guns.
The law “embraces and thus permits ATF to regulate some weapon parts kits,” Gorsuch wrote.
He indicated that the ruling is limited, meaning some products that require “sufficient time, tools and expertise” to create a gun would not necessarily be covered.
The court’s three liberals joined four conservatives in the majority. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.
Related: Federal Jury Convicts Man of Illegally Selling “Ghost Gun”
