The Erie City Council vote on an ordinance banning ghost guns resulted in a 3-3 tie, effectively failing to pass the measure.Opposition to the ban stemmed from concerns about state law preemption and potential infringement on Second Amendment rights.
Ghost guns are still legal in the city of Erie — for now.
Erie City Council reached a 3-3 stalemate regarding an ordinance that would prohibit ghost guns, which are unregistered, untraceable homemade firearms that lack serial numbers and can be purchased without a background check.
The weapons have become popular nationwide.
While City Council members Jasmine Flores, Chuck Nelson and Tyler Titus voted for the ordinance, three of their colleagues — Council President Mel Witherspoon, Maurice Troop and Ed Brzezinski — voted against it.
Councilwoman Kathy Schaaf was absent.
Since the vote resulted in a 3-3 tie, the motion failed. It was not immediately clear if/when the issue would return to City Council’s agenda.
The city’s ordinance would have banned the creation of ghost guns in the city and prohibited the sale or transfer of those weapons in Erie unless the person involved holds a federal firearms license.
City Council gave preliminary approval to the ordinance, which was modeled after legislation put in place in Philadelphia, on March 19.
The city of Erie’s ban aims to limit the use of ghost guns in crimes and promote responsible gun ownership.
However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is reviewing the legality of Philadelphia’s ghost gun ban. The court’s decision could impact similar ordinances in Erie and other cities.
More: Erie police seize guns, including ghost gun, in recent investigations in the city
Brzezinski, before his “no” vote, suggested that the city hold off on the ordinance until the state’s high court makes a ruling. Brzezinski said he and other council members also heard from gun rights advocates who oppose the legislation.
Craig Storrs, the executive director of Pennsylvania Gun Rights, a nonprofit firearms rights group, urged City Council to reject the ordinance during the public comment portion of Wednesday’s meeting.
Storrs said such gun bans are prohibited by state law, and he claimed the move violates the Pennsylvania Constitution and infringes on citizens’ Second Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution.
“You can’t regulate them,” Storrs said. “I would encourage restraint here today on this ordinance.”
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNflowers.