An ordinance aimed at banning ghost guns in the City of Erie has hit a major roadblock.

In a 3-3 vote, Erie City Council failed to pass an ordinance prohibiting ghost guns in the city.

Ghost guns are homemade firearms that are unregistered and untraceable.

The firearms lack serial numbers and can be purchased without a background check.

Council members in favor of the ordinance say it's meant to reduce gun violence in the city.

Meanwhile, several gun rights advocates expressed concerns with the ordinance on Wednesday, saying that it violates the PA Constitution and citizens Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Erie City Council members Tyler Titus, Jasmine Flores, and Chuck Nelson voted in favor of the ordinance.

"This is really a matter of giving as many tools as we can to the police and the DA to keep our kids safe," said Nelson. "When you're looking at the ghost gun manufacturing and what's happening, most of that is juvenile crime and we've had issues with gun violence in juveniles, so this was just going to be a tool to give the police after the Superior Court has upheld it up now in Philadelphia."

Erie City Council members Ed Brzezinski, Maurice Troop, and Mel Witherspoon voted against the ordinance.

Councilwoman Kathy Schaaf was absent for the vote.

"A right to bear arms...legally," said Witherspoon. "I have no problem with that. None whatsoever. It's a tough decision, but maybe it will change in the future, but right now, I think we got to hold on it."

There is currently a pending lawsuit before the Supreme Court on a ghost gun ban in Philadelphia, which could impact similar ordinance throughout Pennsylvania.