Weekly Wrap: Fewer Americans Favor Gun Control & D.C. Clarifies “Ghost Gun” Law

Welcome to a weekly series here on Pew Pew Tactical dedicated to the gun news you need to know.

So, keep reading for this week’s notable news headlines…

Gallup Poll Suggests Fewer Americans in Favor of Gun Control

A new poll published by Gallup in November suggests that gun control may be losing some ground among Americans.

The poll indicated a decline in Americans supporting strict gun control. In total, that stance lost about five percentage points to 52% — the lowest it’s been since 2014.

Gallup also indicated that 35% of American adults think laws regarding gun sales should remain the same, while 11% indicated they would prefer less strict laws than the status quo.

In general, support for increased gun control tends to spike whenever there’s a mass shooting, like the Parkland shooting, which saw support rise 67%.

Gallup noted at that time that was the highest number in favor of gun control since 1993.

But support for gun control has waned within the last year.

“This year’s decrease is driven by a 15-point plunge among independents,” Gallup noted. “For their part, Democrats’ desire for more restrictive gun laws ticked up to 91%.”

In addition to gauging sentiments on gun control, Gallup also polled participants on their feelings on an outright handgun ban.

In theory, this ban would outlaw handguns to everyone except police and other authorized persons.

Gallup found that support for an extreme ban of this nature was at an all-time low – with only 19% of Americans in support.

Washington D.C. Council Attempts to Clarify “Gun Ghost” Terminology

The Washington D.C. Council voted to clarify an existing city law regarding “ghost guns” in response to a federal lawsuit that argues the current law is too broad.

According to The Washington Post, the council voted last week to amend the law which targets “untraceable firearms.”

This is in response to a federal lawsuit filed in September that challenged the city’s ban on the grounds that it is unjustly outlaws DIY kits.

Among the plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit is a familiar name – Dick A. Heller. Heller successfully sued the city in the landmark District of Columbia v. Heller case that eventually wound its way up to the Supreme Court.

In the new suit targeting D.C.’s ban of DIY-style guns, Heller says that the city’s stance on these kits prevented him from making his own gun – although he was willing to register and serialize it after building.

The Post reported that the original law defines ghost guns as firearms that won’t “set off a metal detector after all parts are removed other than the receiver.”

The lawsuit argues that, as it’s written, this means any existing polymer frame handguns would be illegal — even Glock handguns carried by law enforcement.

Last week, D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine (D) proposed changes to the law that would define ghost guns as undetectable firearms.

Further, guns must be detectable with the barrel, trigger, and firing mechanism attached. And that goes for polymer-based guns as well.

The changes also give leeway for legal possession of 80% kits — so long as the owner registers and serializes the firearm and only uses them for personal use.

Though the council approved the changes to the current law, the measures must still be signed off by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) before becoming law.

ATF Seeing More Teens with Illegal Guns in PA

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has teamed up with local police in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to combat a rise in teens with guns.

A local CBS station in the city reports that in 2021, gun seizures and juvenile arrests indicate more teens illegally possess guns.

Local ATF agent Lou Weiers told the news outlet that young people are nabbing guns in three ways – stealing unsecured guns from cars/homes, straw purchases, and so-called ghost guns.

DIY kits and 80% receivers have been a regular target of the ATF and the Biden Administration – both of whom are looking to place restrictions on the ability to manufacture guns at home.  

Ghost guns aside, the ATF says one of the best ways to ensure guns stay out of kids’ hands is to properly store firearms.  

“The biggest thing right now is responsible gun ownership, securing your firearm when it’s not under your immediate control,” Weiers told KDKA.

For more information on securing guns, check out our article on the Best Gun Safes for Pistols & Long Guns or the Best Bedside Gun Safes for Quick Access.

Black Friday Sees Great Deals on Guns, Gear, & Ammo

After weeks of sneak peeks and glimpses, Black Friday sales are officially underway as the retail world immerses itself in one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.

The day after Thanksgiving, officially known as Black Friday, often yields sales on everything from clothing, technology, and even guns and gear.

Though inflation has seen prices on some goods skyrocket in the past months and supply chain issues have caused bare gun store shelves in some areas, there are still deals to be had, according to industry insiders.

Pew Pew Tactical has been tracking these deals all week and gathered them up for our readers.

So, be sure to head over to Black Friday & Cyber Monday Gun Deals [2021 Hand-Picked] for the low down on all the gun deals this holiday shopping weekend.

What do you think of the headlines above? Let us know in the comments. Also, catch up on other Weekly Wraps or news in our News Category.