Local Leaders Take Action to Curb Gun Violence and Close Dangerous Loopholes
[Media, Pa.] – In a major step toward protecting communities from untraceable and rapidly firing firearms, Delaware County is proposing a new ordinance to regulate ghost guns and machine gun conversion devices. The first are untraceable firearm parts that can quickly be turned into a gun with deadly consequences.. The latter turns a firearm into a machine gun.
“The Delaware County Council will always work to protect the futures of our residents and keep our communities safe,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in sending a powerful message that these dangerous gun parts have no place in our county.”
Ghost guns have been linked to numerous violent crimes in Pennsylvania, and recently made national news in the United Healthcare CEO shooting in New York. Locally, Glock switches were used in a March 2024 shooting at a SEPTA bus stop that injured eight students, and in a shooting at a Walmart in Marple Township in April of 2024. These DIY kits can be turned into a firearm in under an hour without a background check, making them a go-to for people who can’t legally buy a gun. The rise in ghost gun recoveries by law enforcement has been staggering, with a 4,600% increase in Philadelphia alone from 2018 to 2022.
Machine gun converters, such as Glock switches and auto sears, are another growing threat. These small, cheap devices can turn a handgun into a fully automatic weapon capable of firing up to 1,200 rounds per minute. While Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) regulations requiring background checks and serialization for ghost guns led to a steep decrease in their usage, that rule could be reversed by the Trump Administration. Local enforcement is also limited, and local authorities are often unable to prosecute offenders. Delaware County’s action will strengthen local law enforcement and safeguard against any federal rollbacks ensuring communities are protected from these deadly devices.
“Ghost gun and machine gun converters put our families and first responders at risk every single day, and that risk is increased every day as these weapons become faster and easier to access,” said Adam Garber, Executive Director of CeaseFirePA Education Fund. “This ordinance will give local law enforcement another tool to keep residents safe. We applaud the local leadership of Delaware County in a time where local government is more important than ever. We need backstops against an anti-gun safety federal administration and Delaware County has answered that call.”
The proposed ordinance would:
- Make it illegal for someone to make a ghost gun or the main parts needed to make one
- Make it illegal to buy or sell main gun parts and the equipment needed to turn those parts into a gun
- Prohibit anyone from manufacturing, producing, purchasing, owning, possessing, selling, or transferring a machine gun converter
States across the country have already taken action against these threats but Pennsylvania has yet to pass similar protections statewide, leaving many communities vulnerable. The time to act is now and Delaware County will join municipalities in the Commonwealth that have enacted these protections including Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Reading and York.
