Blumenthal Applauds Final Rulemaking on "Ghost Guns" & Nomination of Steve Dettelbach to Lead ATF

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement applauding final rulemaking issued by the Department of Justice to help law enforcement protect the public from untraceable, homemade firearms, known as “ghost guns.”

“Finally, federal regulations recognize the deadly truth: a homemade gun is still a gun. Just ask anyone who has lost a loved one to a so-called ghost gun; they shoot like guns and they kill like guns. But they have not been treated as guns under federal law — until today. The rule finalized today will allow law enforcement to finally take action to stop anyone exploiting a loophole in the law to stockpile weapons commonly used in crime and killing. This measure helps support police efforts to combat crimes by tracing the weapons used to commit them. New technology makes ghost guns one of the biggest emerging threats.”

Last year, Blumenthal chaired a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee on efforts to halt the deadly spread of “ghost guns.” Blumenthal is also the lead Senate sponsor of the Untraceable Firearms Act to permanently include the core building blocks of “ghost” guns – unfinished frames and receivers – in the definition of “firearm” under federal law. The bill also incorporates the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act, which would prohibit firearms that can be easily modified to be pass through metal detectors undetected.

Today, Blumenthal also welcomed the nomination of Steve Dettelbach to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). ATF has been without a permanent director for the last six years and has had only one Senate-confirmed director since 2006.

“Steve Dettelbach is an excellent choice to lead ATF. In two decades serving with law enforcement on the front lines of the gun epidemic, Steve Dettelbach learned firsthand what works to prevent more gun deaths and protect against violent crime. ATF desperately needs dynamic leadership – a Senate confirmed chief executive with a mandate for vigorous enforcement and vital accountability. I look forward to swift Senate action on this long overdue nomination.”

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