House Philadelphia Delegation applauds ‘ghost gun’ settlement with city

Continues to call on state Senate to pass state-level gun safety measures

Philadelphia House Delegation    April 12, 2024 | 3:45 PM

PHILADELPHIA, April 12 – Philadelphia House Delegation Chair Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., today said she was relieved to learn that two major suppliers of ghost guns have reached an agreement with the city to stop selling their deadly products that have been entering Philadelphia at an alarming rate.

Under the settlement, which comes about 10 months after the city filed a lawsuit against Polymer80 and JDS Supply for negligence, the two sellers have agreed to stop selling these parts online and in stores within the city for four years and at gun shows for two years. Polymer80 also will make $1.3 million in payments to the city to fund local efforts to address gun violence.   

“I am relieved to see these companies taking some responsibility for the devastation that their deadly products have inflicted upon our city and on countless numbers of grieving families and terrified residents,” Cephas said. “I applaud Mayor Parker and her administration for the city’s strong position in this fight and will continue to work with my colleagues at the state level to enact the many reforms that are needed in the fight against gun violence.

“While this settlement is good news, it’s just the tip of what’s needed to reduce deadly gun violence across Pennsylvania. I continue to call on the Pennsylvania Senate to pass the gun safety reform measures sent to them by the House this legislative session. To be sure, this settlement sends the clear message that doing nothing will put you on the losing side of public opinion and public policy.”

Cephas and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., introduced legislation (H.B. 777) passed by the House in March that aims to eliminate the proliferation of ghost guns in Pennsylvania and crack down on those who buy or sell them.

“The city settlement with Polymer80 and JDS Supply brings us a step closer to addressing the scourge of ghost guns in our city,” Kenyatta said. “It won’t undo the damage that’s been done, but it does make clear to everyone involved in this issue that we have a serious problem that must continue to be worked on and eventually solved. Too many innocent lives depend on it.

“It is now time for the Senate to do its part,” he said.

Other bills passed by the House and now under consideration in the Senate would allow for the temporary removal of firearms from people at extreme risk of hurting themselves or others (H.B. 1018), expand comprehensive background checks on all firearms sales (H.B. 714), and provide grant funding to communities for installing lighting and security cameras around schools, playgrounds, community centers and high-crime areas (H.B. 1130).