The state House on Wednesday held a contentious debate related to so-called “ghost guns” – including conflicting statements on how Pennsylvania State Police felt about the issue – and then passed a bill to ban the purchase, sale and production of untraceable gun parts.

Soon afterward, Gov. Josh Shapiro posted a statement on social media that endorsed the bill. He called on the state Senate to pass it. “I’ve been fighting for legislation like this since I was attorney general,” Mr. Shapiro said in a post on X.

But the Republican majority leader in that chamber, Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, gave an unenthusiastic response when asked about the bill. His caucus, he said, supports law enforcement, school safety initiatives and looking at providing more behavioral or mental health supports, but “Pennsylvania currently has robust laws in place pertaining to guns.”

“Ghost guns” is a phrase that has been attached to guns made from unmarked parts or 3D-printed components. Bill sponsor Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Philadelphia, said they are becoming the “weapon of choice” of violent criminals and the bill’s goal was to limit access to them.