President Joe Biden unveiled new regulations on Monday in an attempt to control the ghost gun crisis.
“These guns are weapons of choice for many criminals,” Biden said. “We’re going to do everything we can to deprive them of that choice and when we find them, put them in jail for a long, long time.”
Ghost guns are guns that can be ordered in easy-to-assemble kits. They’re dangerous because anyone can buy them, regardless of criminal history. The guns were also previously untraceable. Now, Biden says his new regulation will seek to ensure background checks are run before a buyer is able to purchase a gun.
“All of a sudden, it’s no longer a ghost,” Biden remarked. “It has a return address. And it’s going to help save lives, reduce crime and get more criminals off the streets.”
Biden brought one of the kits along and easily assembled the weapon during his speech.
“If you buy a couch you have to assemble, it’s still a couch. If you order a package like this one over here that includes the parts that you need and directs the assembly of a functioning firearm, you bought a gun,” he said.
Biden also announced his former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Steve Dettelbach as his new nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Biden withdrew his previous choice, David Chipman, after Republicans blocked his confirmation based on his support of gun control. No one has held the position since 2013.
