Reading City Council’s Proposed Ghost Gun Ordinance: Another Assault on Our Rights

Once again, anti-gun politicians are at it, trying to strip away our fundamental rights under the guise of “safety.” During its Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday night, Reading City Council heard from Berks County’s first assistant district attorney about serious concerns regarding a proposed ordinance targeting so-called "ghost guns." This is nothing more than an attempt to undermine our Second Amendment rights, and we must stand firm against it.

Legal Smoke and Mirrors

Dennis Skayhan, Berks County's first assistant district attorney, was clear: this proposed ordinance is a legal nightmare. He urged the council to defer the ordinance until similar laws in other cities, which are currently being litigated, reach a final resolution. "We would prefer that this ordinance be deferred until what I believe is very similar ordinances in other cities, which are being litigated, move through the appeals process, and we have a final resolution on those ordinances," Skayhan said.

Let's be clear: any restriction on our  Second Amendment rights shifts the burden to the government to justify such a move. This proposed ordinance doesn't even bother to distinguish between law-abiding citizens who can legally possess firearms and those who might misuse them. It’s a one-size-fits-all approach that punishes responsible gun owners while doing nothing to stop criminals.

CeaseFirePA’s Misguided Agenda

Brandon Flood from CeaseFirePA, the anti-gun lobbyist group, was back at it again, pushing his anti-freedom agenda. He claimed the ordinance is about regulating the sale and transfer of unfinished firearm kits, but his words ring hollow. "If you know that a person is not otherwise prohibited, that person would not be charged," Flood said. But we know better. This ordinance is just another way to chip away at our rights, one regulation at a time.

Enforcement and Effectiveness: A Joke

Chief of Police Elias "Eli" Vazquez tried to justify the ordinance by citing an increase in ghost gun seizures—from four in 2021 to 20 in 2023. But his plan for enforcement is vague at best. This would be "complaint-driven and intel-driven," Vazquez said. Translation: it’s a bureaucratic mess that will target lawful  gun owners while criminals continue to operate with impunity.

The Preemption Problem

Skayhan also pointed out the elephant in the room: state preemption. If this ordinance conflicts with state law, it’s dead in the water. Even Councilmember Jamie Baez Jr., who supports the ordinance, admitted that local regulations are limited by state and federal laws. Yet, he still wants to push forward. This shows a blatant disregard for the legal framework and a stubborn commitment to an  anti-gun agenda.

Waiting for the Courts

Flood mentioned that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and potentially the U.S.  Supreme Court might take up the issue of ghost guns soon. But relying on future court decisions is a weak justification for passing flawed legislation now. Flood’s argument that the policy is effective if it prevents one kit from getting into the wrong hands is a feeble attempt to defend a bad policy.

Conclusion

Reading City Council's proposed ghost gun ordinance is a clear assault on our Second Amendment rights. It’s legally flawed, overly broad, and fails to distinguish between lawful gun owners and criminals. The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) will continue to fight against such unconstitutional regulations. We stand ready to defend our rights at every turn.

Stay strong, 80 Army. We will not let these anti-gun zealots strip us of our fundamental freedoms. Join us in this fight and make your voice heard.

For more updates and to get involved, visit our website and follow us on social media. Together, we will protect our right to keep and bear arms.