In a bid to address the troubling rise of untraceable firearms often referred to as "ghost guns," the Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee has approved legislation aimed at regulating these firearms. According to WEMU, the proposed measures would require gun parts to carry serial numbers, a move intended to help law enforcement track the ownership and transfer of these weapons more effectively.
Spurred by recent incidents including the high-profile murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly by a man using a ghost gun, the legislation has gained momentum. "It is simply too easy for criminals and other prohibited people to access ‘ghost guns,’” Senator Mallory McMorrow stated to WEMU after introducing bills in the Senate. Yet, opposition voices have been quick to challenge the bills, with Michigan Open Carry's Tom Lambert raising concerns about their effectiveness and constitutionality. "Is that the argument we want to advance here today? Is that really the complete absence of logic that we’re operating under?" he questioned during the committee hearing.
The proposed bills extend beyond the tracking of firearms to include a prohibition on bump stocks, which effectively allow semi-automatic weapons to fire at rates akin to automatic ones. Advocates for tougher gun laws argue that the ability to assemble firearms from kits or 3D-printed parts has made it too simple for dangerous individuals, including minors and domestic abusers, to obtain guns without proper background checks. "Ghost guns are crime guns," claimed Jessica Ojeda of the Giffords Law Center, as reported by WEMU.
Illustrating another perspective on the issue, UpNorthLive brought attention to the testimony of Denise Wieck, whose son's life was drastically altered due to an accidental shooting with a ghost gun. "Don't stand aside and think nothing's going to happen. Fight now. Fight to make these changes so it doesn't happen to you or another family member," Wieck implored. However, individuals like Casey Koss from Tactical Advantage Guns argue that the current laws are sufficient, urging instead for better enforcement rather than new legislation.
