Victory for Gun Safety in the Courts: Nevada Supreme Court Upholds Life-Saving Ghost Gun Ban, Ruling it Constitutional 

Everytown Law, the nation’s largest and most experienced team of gun violence prevention litigators, and the Nevada chapter of Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, applaud today’s decision from the Nevada Supreme Court upholding the state’s life-saving ban on ghost guns. In a unanimous decision released Thursday, the seven Justices reversed a Third Judicial District Court ruling that the law banning the sale of unfinished frames and receivers of a firearm was unconstitutionally vague. 

“A clear and growing threat to public safety nationwide, ghost guns have been exacerbating our nation’s existing gun violence epidemic and undermining crucial gun safety laws,” said Eric Tirschwell, Executive Director of Everytown Law. “Communities across Nevada and across the country are undoubtedly safer tonight thanks to this ruling upholding the state’s ghost gun ban. We applaud the Justices for choosing to end the proliferation of these deadly weapons.”

“Today’s decision is a win for Nevada families,” said Jamie Bunnell, a volunteer with the Nevada chapter of Moms Demand Action. “For far too long ghost guns have terrorized our communities with little to no regulation. This decision reaffirms Nevada’s right to implement common-sense gun safety policies, and we must continue working to prevent senseless acts of gun violence.”

Then-Governor Stephen Sisolak signed the ghost gun ban into law on June 7, 2021 after focused advocacy from Everytown and Moms Demand Action. Polymer80, a Nevada company that is the nation’s largest producer of ghost gun kits and component parts, challenged the law. In December 2021, the district court struck down provisions of the law prohibiting the sale and possession of unfinished frames and receivers—the major components of ghost guns. Today’s decision allows the law to finally take effect, prohibiting the distribution of the major components of ghost guns in the state. As reported earlier this year, Las Vegas police have recovered more than 1,100 ghost guns since the department began keeping track of such recoveries in 2020. 

Ghost guns are unserialized, untraceable firearms that can be quickly and easily assembled from parts acquired without a background check. Everytown has compiled examples of ghost gun shootings from across the country since 2013, available here. Everytown’s report on ghost guns, featuring testimonials from law enforcement officers, can be found here. A statement from the Nevada chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action celebrating the initial passage of the ghost gun legislation in question can also be found here. 

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