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Ghost Guns

Issues

Ghost Guns

What is the problem?

A ghost gun is a do-it-yourself, homemade gun made from easy-to-get building blocks that can be purchased with no background check and no questions asked. These guns are made by an individual, not a federally licensed manufacturer or importer. Ghost guns are the fastest-growing gun safety problem facing our country.

In less than one hour, these self-made weapons become fully functioning, untraceable firearms. A person can buy the parts and assemble a ghost gun without even receiving a background check

They are becoming a weapon of choice for violent criminals, gun traffickers, and other legally prohibited persons. Federal authorities must act to ensure that the core parts for ghost guns are defined as firearms and properly regulated. States should also take immediate action to regulate ghost guns.

What does the ATF consider to be a firearm?

The difference between an unfinished frame or receiver and a finished, ready-to-use frame or receiver is a few tools and a couple of hours of work.

Illustrations depicting the difference in what the ATF considers a firearm, and what the ATF says is not a firearm.

Why is it an issue?

Criminals can easily build a gun in under an hour.

Decades ago, it may have required certain technical knowledge and skill to convert an unfinished firearm frame or receiver into a fully functioning firearm, but those days are over. Today, with just a few tools and less than an hour, a person with no gunsmithing skills can take an unfinished frame or receiver and make it into a working firearm. Online sellers have tapped into this market, becoming one-stop shops for ghost gun parts, tools, and how-to guides. And these sellers openly promote that their products are designed to evade ATF regulation. It should come as no surprise that ghost gun recoveries across the U.S. are on the rise, and have recently been connected with criminal enterprises, gun trafficking rings, and far-right extremists.

By the numbers

You might be wondering…

  1. 1 Why doesn’t the ATF consider ghost guns to be firearms?
  2. 2 Are ghost guns just for hobbyists?
  3. 3 Are downloadable guns considered to be ghost guns?
  4. 4 Are ghost guns expensive to build?