Philly Leader

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced that a new federal rule has gone into effect that requires licensed firearms dealers to conduct background checks when selling partially completed frames or receivers (PCFRs) that can be used to make homemade guns (often referred to as ghost guns).

The rule went into effect on Aug. 24 and was implemented by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; a press release from the governor’s office said. There are several changes it brings about, among them a change in the definition of a frame or receiver. The new rule also requires background checks to be done—which will be conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)—before the sale of the frames and receivers.

“Gun deaths are at an all-time high across the nation and right here in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said in the release. “We can prevent some of this tragedy by keeping weapons out of the hands of those who can’t pass a background check. Today, thanks to the Biden Administration, we are able to do just that – if you can’t pass a background check to purchase a fully assembled gun, you also won’t be able to purchase the PCFRs to build your own gun at home. This is long overdue, and we’re ready to implement this rule in Pennsylvania immediately.”

Last year the Pennsylvania State Police began tracking the seizure and recovery of ghost guns at crime scenes, and the City of Philadelphia began such tracking in 2019; the release said. In Philadelphia, there were 95 seizures of ghost guns at crime scenes in 2019. This number increased dramatically in the next two years, tallying 250 in 2020 and 571 in 2021. This year to date, the PSP and Philadelphia have combined to seize and recover 334 ghost guns.

The Wolf administration has long tried to curb gun violence, and most recently $160 million was included in the governor’s final budget toward preventing violence across the state. In January he vetoed House Bill 979, which would have discouraged jurisdictions from regulating firearms. Wolf also vetoed Senate Bill 565 in 2021, which would have removed licensing and background check requirements for concealed carry permits statewide, as well as overturned Philadelphia’s requirements for an open carry permit. Additionally, he has invested $50 million in grassroots gun violence prevention programs.

State Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office has been alarmed by ghost guns and how they have been used by criminals. In 2019 his office attempted to implement background checks, but gun lobbyists blocked the move through litigation efforts. Shapiro noted that for years convicted felons, violent drug dealers and other criminals have been able to purchase ghost guns without a background check.

“With these new federal regulations taking effect today and being implemented in our Commonwealth, we are making it harder for gun kits to end up in the hands of criminals and easier for law enforcement to track crime guns in their investigations,” he said in the release. “All this helps make Pennsylvania communities safer.”