The U.S. Supreme Court recently announced that it will hear VanDerStok v. Garland, a case that challenges the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) so-called “ghost gun” rule, later this year.

The ATF rule, initially issued in 2022, treats some firearms parts and part kits as if they are actually functional firearms. It requires that these parts, such as a frame or receiver, be treated like they are a completed firearm. As such, manufacturers and sellers of such parts would need to be licensed, and the parts must have serial numbers. It also requires purchasers of these reclassified parts to be subject to background checks before acquiring them, just like when buying a complete firearm from a licensed dealer.