Federal Judge Strikes Down ATF 'Ghost Gun' Rule, Citing Fifth Amendment and Historical Tradition
Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has invalidated a rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that subjected part kits, readily convertible into functional weapons, to the same regulations as complete firearms. The ruling, which impacts the 3D printer market, states that the ATF rule contradicts the historical tradition of personal gunsmithing and violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment due to its vagueness. The ATF rule, enacted in 2022, required background checks for purchasers of these kits, defined firearm frames and receivers, and mandated serial numbers for certain gun parts, including 3D-printed guns. It also extended record-keeping requirements for gun sellers and gunsmiths. This decision comes despite the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the ATF regulation in March of the previous year, with Justice Neil Gorsuch noting that future cases might present more complex questions regarding the ATF's regulations. The r... 
