While Pennsylvania has an anti-gun governor, they’re still a preemption state. That means, with a few potential exceptions, local governments can’t pass their own gun control laws. I may have had reason to talk about what preemption means earlier today.

Because it’s a preemption state, though, local governments can’t concoct their own gun control laws.

Or, at least, that’s the theory.

Reading, Pennsylvania apparently doesn’t care about laws…while expecting others to follow the one they just passed.

Reading City Council voted Monday night to adopt an ordinance amending its city code to prohibit the use of three-dimensional printers to manufacture firearms — also known as ghost guns — and to impose prohibitions related to the transfer, use or conversion of unfinished firearms and related equipment.

Last month, council heard a presentation from Brandon Flood, the deputy director of government affairs for CeaseFirePA, recommending that council adopt an ordinance to impose regulations on ghost guns.

Flood had originally explained to council that ghost guns are unregistered and untraceable homemade weapons, and that there are no checks and balances.

At the time the ordinance was introduced earlier this month, Chief of Police Elias “Eli” Vazquez told council that in 2021 the city seized four ghost guns, 13 in 2022 and 20 in 2023.

Councilmember Melissa Ventura had been instrumental is getting Flood to make a presentation to council.

“Unlike traditional firearms, these weapons can be purchased without a background check and assembled by anyone, including those who may be a prohibited person,” Ventura said. “This loophole makes it easier for dangerous individuals to obtain firearms, contributing to increased violence and undermining our efforts to keep our neighborhoods safe.”

“We’re not saying that this is the solution to gun violence, but by enacting this ordinance, we are taking a proactive step to close this loophole and ensure that all firearms in our community are traceable and subject to the same legal requirements as other guns,” Ventura said.

Of course, as per usual with the media, there’s no mention at all regarding preemption.

Shocking, I know.

But perhaps even more relevant is the fact that bans on stuff like this don’t actually do anything. 

This is a local ordinance, which means people can get the parts outside of the city, and then bring them in with absolutely no issue at all. Further, this is a city ordinance. That means it’s a misdemeanor charge. You’re looking at less than a year in jail and a fine, but then the offending party can go right back to doing what they were doing because the penalty is so minor.

Then we have the fact that while “ghost gun” sounds scary, people have been able to make guns themselves since before this country was a country. It was never an issue until the media and anti-gun politicians freaked out over it.

Yes, they’re “untraceable,” but from a practical standpoint, so is any stolen gun or gun sold a couple of times, particularly in face-to-face transfers. 

“But people can get them without background checks.”

And criminals are getting far more traditionally made firearms even in states with universal background checks. Bad guys do not follow the law! That’s kind of in the job description, for crying out loud. Why would they suddenly start following gun laws?

All around, this is stupid.

Then we have the preemption issue, which is going to make things spicy for Reading. That’s good because this crap cannot be tolerated.