Photo by Vvzvlad/Wikimedia Commons
Understanding ghost guns requires knowing some basic facts about how guns are constructed.Ā FramesĀ andĀ receiversĀ are the core building blocks of firearms. In a pistol, theĀ frameĀ is the bottom half of the gun, housing the trigger and the magazine. TheĀ frameĀ also provides a foundation for the slide and barrel (i.e., the parts a bullet passes through when fired). In a semi-automatic rifle, theĀ receiverĀ houses the trigger parts and magazine and attaches to other parts.
In recent years, companies have used advances in technology to manufacture and sell āfirearm parts kitsā and āeasy-to-complete frames or receivers.ā These kits made it simple for anyone withĀ basic tools and internet accessĀ to make aĀ do-it-yourself, homemade gunĀ from easy-to-obtain building blocks. These kitsāoften called āghost gunsāāwere previously available for purchase withĀ no background checkĀ andĀ no questions asked.
A ghost gun has three key, related characteristics:
- It isĀ unserialized;
- It isĀ untraceable; and
- Its building blocks are acquiredĀ without a background check.
Most ghost guns are made from āunfinishedā frames and receivers. Unfinished frames and receivers are often marketed as ā80 percentā complete. That number suggests a buyer needs to do only 20 percent of the work for the frame or receiver to be assembled into an operable firearm. In reality,Ā these parts can be finished in an hour or so or less.
For years,Ā ghost guns represented the fastest-growing gun safety threat to our communities. Felons, minors, and others who are prohibited from buying firearms were able to acquire ghost guns by simply ordering them over the internet and having them delivered to their doorsteps. They can do so without a background check or verifying their identity,Ā circumventing existing laws.
Ghost guns do not have records or serial numbers. This lack of identification has āseverely undermine[d]ā law enforcementās ability to trace guns used in crimes back to their last point of sale to determine their owners. Ghost guns, with their lack of serial numbers, impair ālaw enforcementās ability to apprehend violent individuals who may pose an ongoing threat to public safety.ā According to theĀ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and ExplosivesĀ (ATF), law enforcement agencies recovered 1,758 ghost guns to the ATF for tracing in 2016. In 2021, the number recovered was 19,344āanĀ over 1,000-percent increase.