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Honoring and Recognizing the Philadelphia Law Department, The GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and the Hausfeld Law Firm for their work in upholding public safety for all Philadelphians by ensuring accountability for ghost gun suppliers.
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WHEREAS, On July 5, 2023, The Philadelphia Law Department, along with their co-counsel, the GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Hausfeld Law Firm, announced they had filed a lawsuit against two of the largest suppliers of ghost guns in Philadelphia. Both companies have directly contributed to Philadelphia's gun violence crisis; and
WHEREAS, Polymer80 Inc. and JSD Supply are among the largest suppliers of ghost guns in Philadelphia. The companies sell ghost gun parts and kits without a background check. Their products can be used to easily assemble a fully functional, unserialized firearm using common household tools; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, City Council passed legislation regulating ghost gun parts in Philadelphia. This legislation prohibited the use of three-dimensional printers to manufacture firearms as well as the transfer of materials that are used to assemble ghost guns, except by persons with the appropriate federal license. After being involved in years of litigation, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that this legislation was not preempted and was able to be enforced; and
WHEREAS, Ghost guns have played a massive role in numerous high-profile shootings in Philadelphia, including the 2023 mass in West Philadelphia in July of 2023. Due to the fact that they cannot be traced to the original purchaser without a serial number, they have become widely used by juveniles not old enough to legally purchase a firearm or those who are not legally allowed to purchase firearm due to their experience in the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, In 2022 alone, 575 ghost guns were seized by the Philadelphia Police Department, and in 2023, 87% of ghost guns recovered in criminal inves...
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