Amy Coney Barrett's Support for Ghost Gun Regulations

In the context of ongoing debates surrounding ghost guns—firearms that can be assembled from parts purchased online—Barrett’s perspective has emerged as significant. The regulation in question, introduced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in April 2022, mandates that these kits be registered as firearms, requiring owners to have licenses and undergo background checks. Barrett’s questioning during oral arguments indicated her support for the regulation, particularly when she engaged in a food analogy regarding the assembly of ingredients for cooking versus assembling gun components. This stance aligns Barrett with more liberal justices, as she joined them and Chief Justice Roberts in a decision favoring the implementation of the ghost gun rule, contrasting with the more traditional conservative viewpoint represented by Justice Clarence Thomas.

Key Points of Barrett’s Position

• Support for Regulation: Barrett has shown support for the ATF’s regulation, which aims to control the proliferation of ghost guns by requiring registration and licensing.
• Judicial Engagement: Her questioning during the oral arguments indicated a willingness to challenge the conventional conservative narrative surrounding gun ownership.
• Historical Context: This is not the first instance where Barrett has diverged from conservative orthodoxy on gun issues, as she has also expressed concern in other cases involving gun rights and domestic violence restraining orders.

Barrett’s approach may signal a shift in how some conservative justices view gun regulations, particularly in light of rising concerns over the accessibility and use of ghost guns in criminal activities.