The Delaware Country is the latest local government in Pennsylvania and the first suburbs in Philadelphia, in order to prohibit weapons and devices that can transform the pistols into automatic weapons.
The Council of the County, consisting entirely of Democrats, voted unanimously on Wednesday to prohibit unlicensed sales, production and employ of weapons with a 3D print without a serial number known as Ghost Guns. The regulation would also prohibit weapons, including tumor reserves and GLOCK switches, which generally transform firearms into automatic weapons.
The Delaware Country is the first local government in the suburbs of Philly, which took up a problem that supporters of Pennsylvania’s arms control imposed on the fear that the administration of President Donald Trump would reduce existing regulations.
Pursuant to the regulation, which enters into force 10 days after passing, the violations will cause a maximum penalty of 10 days in prison and a fine of USD 1000.
Members of the Council argued that although this measure is only a petite step towards reducing weapon violence, they are morally obliged to do something.
“If this helps save one life, I think this regulation is worth time,” said Council member Richard Womack.
Within a hour of public commentary, the council stood in the face of mixed reviews from the residents. Several residents and supporters of weapon control enthusiastically called members of the Council to take action, while others condemned the regulation as an incorrect attempt to regulate weapons, not to deal with mental health.
Justin Perry of Upper Providence argued that the politician would violate the rights of legal weapons owners, while those unauthorized to their own firearms can no longer legally buy ghosts.
“We have to go after criminals, people who sell these things illegally,” he said.
Andrea Knox, a resident of Swarthmore, agreed with fears that the regulation does not deal with the basic cause of violence using weapons. But she said it could be the beginning.
“If nothing more, it gives a signal that mass use of weapons to solve problems is not something that we as a society we accept,” said Knox.
Ghost pistols are often combined using sets that may not contain a serial number, which means that firearms more complex to track and more accessible to people prohibiting the possession of weapons.
Federal provisions reduced the employ of ghost pistols across the country, and the GLOCK switches are illegal in accordance with federal law.
Although the inhabitants referred to concerns about the rights to the second amendment and the Act on the premiere of Pennsylvania, blocking the regulation of firearms by local governments, members of the Council quickly pointed out that similar policies were maintained in a state court and that the US Supreme Court maintained federal regulations regarding ghosts last month.
“Today at the moment the courts say that we can pass this regulation,” said Kevin Madden member.
Thanks to the regulation, Delaware Filadelfa follows the Philadelphia, which was the first commune in Pennsylvania, which banned the ghosts and machine guns’ ghost rifles and converters as part of constant effort to enforce local weapon restrictions.
The city is currently fighting with separate lawsuits, which argue that the ordinances violate the Pennsylvania Premonation Act, which prohibits the local government of firearms.
Last year, Commonwealth Court voted 4-3 to maintain a ban on weapons of the city’s spirits. The case is now before the State Supreme Court. The ban on the city in bats were challenged in court within a few days of its approval last year.
According to the suspension, Delaware Ferry is the second unit in the whole state prohibiting machine gun converters. The fourth local government is a ban on weapons of ghosts after Harrisburg and York.
While the Delaware County regulation will probably have a relatively petite impact on weapons violence in the Fountain, supporters say that this is a massive step, because weapons control will continue to get stuck at federal and state levels.
“This regulation is a huge step forward in the field of public security of the inhabitants of Delaware,” said Adam Garber, general director of the suspension, during the Wednesday hearing on the regulation.
Marge Larue, whose grandson Nicolas Elizalde died during a shooting in Roxborough High School in 2022, said that the vote “seemed monumental.” She was in favor of the control of weapons since the loss of her grandson and said that she hopes that the action of Delaware can inspire other local governments.
“I hope that if nothing more, people think about this problem. He maintains the problem at the front and center,” she said on Thursday in an interview.
