SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Pres. Biden's ban on so-called ghost guns could help bolster local ordinances against the untraceable weapons.
San Diego Police have discovered a number of these ghost guns involved in recent crimes including the Gaslamp shooting last year which took the life of a hotel valet. San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, who authored the city's ghost gun ban, tells reporting partner 10 News this is why more regulations are needed.
"All these cities saw a rise in gun violence, perpetrated by people who can't lawfully own firearms," said von Wilpert. "That's the ghost gun loophole."
The councilmember says despite the city and county's ban on the weapons, they're still being produced and sent across state line, but Pres Biden's ban would apply to all cities and states.
But Michael Schwartz, who heads up the San Diego County Gun Owners PAC, says Biden's move is just a public relations stunt and that criminals will continue to commit crimes no matter what laws are passed.
"There's really just no evidence that really suggests that hobbyists that are building firearms for their own personal use are contributing to crime statistics," said Schwartz.
According to federal data, some 20,000 ghost guns were recovered from criminal investigations nationwide last year.
Here's more on this story from reporting partner 10 News: