The City of Erie, PA is the latest municipality to break state law and consider banning so-called “ghost guns,” otherwise known as firearms that can be built by individuals at home.
This ban is a direct assault on the Second Amendment and a dangerous overreach that criminalizes law-abiding gun owners.
What Are “Ghost Guns”?
“Ghost guns” refer to homemade firearms, often built from kits or 3D-printed parts and do not have serial numbers.
These firearms are perfectly legal under federal law and have been part of American gun culture since the founding of the nation.
Hobbyists, gunsmiths, and collectors have long enjoyed the right to build firearms for personal use without government interference.
The Problem with Erie’s Proposed Ban
The push to ban “ghost guns” is based on misleading narratives. Gun-grabbers argue that these fuel crime, but as usual the FBI’s crime data doesn’t support it.
Criminals overwhelmingly obtain firearms through illegal means, not by spending hours assembling a firearm from a kit.
Furthermore, by targeting these firearms, Erie’s proposed ban punishes responsible gun owners while doing little to curb actual violence.
This type of regulation also raises serious constitutional concerns.
- Second Amendment Violation: The right to keep and bear arms includes the ability to build them for personal use.
- Pennsylvania State Law Violation: Pennsylvania has strong “preemption” laws, meaning that Erie cannot regulate firearms to any greater extent than the state legislature in Harrisburg has. This was upheld as recently as 2024 when Philadelphia tried unsuccessfully to get it overturned.
- Federal Law Violation: In the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Bondi v. VanDerStok, they upheld the ATF’s rule that treats “ghost gun” kits the same as firearms. Whether we like the ruling or not, that is the law. Therefore, under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution, the ATF’s definition of “ghost guns” being equal to firearms is binding on the states. This further proves the violation of Pennsylvania’s preemption law.
- Slippery Slope to More Gun Control: Banning homemade firearms sets a precedent for further restrictions, paving the way for broader gun bans in the future.
Erie’s Resident Gun-Grabber
The person leading this charge most vocally is City Councilman Chuck Nelson, who is running for Erie City Controller in the 2025 elections.
Chuck believes that 2nd Amendment activists are “losers” and “gun extremists.”
He also believes that he knows better than the residents of Erie that elected him and that he answers to. In an email exchange, Councilman Nelson writes the following:
- “I believe that it is an overstatement to say that we can “find common ground.” The ordinance is very small and common sense, yet still opposed by these gun extremists. Being dismissive towards his (PAGR Executive Director Craig Storrs) concerns is probably the most pragmatic solution. As he writes on behalf of his members and supporters, they are a very loud but very small minority of those that we represent. We know our city better.” – Chuck Nelson in an email to Dr. Tyler Titus (Erie City Council) with PAGR Executive Director Craig Storrs CC’d.
His comments to Second Amendment supporters underscore the disdain he has for your Constitutional rights.
- “There’s a lot of people out there that basically feel impotent if they’re not strapped and measure their manhood by barrel size.” – Chuck Nelson
Stand Up for Gun Rights in Erie
Gun owners and Second Amendment advocates in Erie must take a stand against this unconstitutional overreach and Councilman Chuck Nelson’s outright hatred for your constitutional rights.
Councilman Nelson can be reached at: cnelson@erie.pa.us, by phone at (814) 449-4582, or you can visit his Facebook page here to send him a Facebook message. As always, please screenshot any interaction with Councilman Nelson and if anything concerns you, please email it to info@pagunrights.org.
City Council will be considering the “ghost gun” ban on the third and final reading (passage) at their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 9:00 AM. Please show up!
Erie City Council Chambers are located at: 626 State St #104, Erie, PA 16501.