05-04-2025
Vote to ban ghost gun production in City of Erie fails, what's next?
An ordinance to put restrictions on 3D-printed ghost guns in the City of Erie has been shelved after council failed to pass it with a majority vote.
One council member was absent from the meeting Wednesday morning resulting in a 3-3 stalemate vote.
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Some elected officials at Erie City Hall are hoping to crack down on ghost guns which are unfinished firearms made without a serial number from components or kits bought online from someone with a 3D printer.
The idea for supporters of the ordinance was to help reduce violence, promote proper gun ownership, and to keep guns out of the hands of youth.
It would do so by prohibiting the creation of the weapons in the city along with their unverified sales but with the absence of a council member, the ordinance fell flat.
'The thing is headed towards the Supreme Court. So we were, as far as I was concerned, premature in putting anything like that as an ordinance until we knew what was going to happen. We could get sued if things fell the wrong way,' said Ed Brezinski (D), an Erie City council member.
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Brzezinski is referring to a legal challenge to Philadelphia's ghost gun ban, which looks similar to what was proposed here in Erie.
That case will be heard by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as to how Second Amendment rights may or may not be considered impacted by the legislation.
Gun advocates believe ordinances like this one violate Pennsylvania law.
'It says that no county, municipality, township or city can regulate the realm of firearms to any greater extent than the general assembly in Harrisburg has. And that's what this ordinance does,' said Craig Storrs, executive director of Pennsylvania Gun Rights.
A Commonwealth Court upheld Philadelphia's ghost gun ordinance, giving supports of the ban the reassurance to vote on it here in Erie. But Storrs said not so fast.
'You're anything but fine. That's why we have a state supreme court to weigh in on this, and this is a state supreme court that despite being 7-2 Democrat-controlled, has very consistently ruled in favor of the general assembly's gun laws,' he explained.
Erie police said they've only collected a handful of ghost guns in the past year. That's considered a small amount compared to the number seized and related to criminal investigations across the rest of the country.
'I talked to the chief on it too. He really didn't care one way or the other. He basically said it's another tool in our toolbox,' Brzezinski said. 'He didn't say to do it. If he would have, I would've looked even closer.'
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So what happens from here?
Council has the option to reintroduce the ordinance to the agenda with a council sponsor, and a second.
But at this time, it's unclear if it will return before all seven council members.
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