Ghost guns are one of the fastest growing threats to gun safety, which is why thousands of our supporters have urged the ATF to take action. These untraceable firearms are showing up at more crime scenes across the country—including in school shootings. And because they can be bought in kit form with no background check and no questions asked, they’ve become a weapon of choice for criminals and gun traffickers.
Myth
The ATF treats ghost guns as they would any other type of gun.
Fact
For years, the ATF looked the other way as companies sold ghost gun kits and unfinished frames or receivers without following the same rules as firearms. Yet the only difference between these ghost gun kits and parts and fully functional firearms is a few tools, a couple of hours of work, and no serial number, background check, or questions asked.
Myth
The ATF and federal government are doing all they can to regulate and stop the proliferation of ghost guns.
Fact
State legislatures carry the burden of regulating the core building blocks of ghost guns, while the ATF stalls on implementing a rule that would stop their proliferation.
Which states regulate ghost guns?
11 states have adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Alabama has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Alaska has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Arizona has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Arkansas has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
California has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Colorado has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Connecticut has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no plastic undetectable guns.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Delaware has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, no plastic undetectable guns, no 3D printing of guns, no distribution of 3D printing instructions.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Florida has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Georgia has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Hawaii has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no 3D printing of guns.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Idaho has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Illinois has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for all firearms and component parts.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Indiana has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Iowa has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Kansas has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Kentucky has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Louisiana has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Maine has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Maryland has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for all firearms and component parts. All ghost guns must be reported to officials.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Massachusetts has not adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- No plastic undetectable guns
Ghost Guns Regulated
Michigan has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Minnesota has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Mississippi has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Missouri has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Montana has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Nebraska has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Nevada has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts
Ghost Guns Regulated
New Hampshire has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
New Jersey has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no 3D printing of guns, no distribution of 3D printing instructions, no plastic undetectable guns.
Ghost Guns Regulated
New Mexico has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
New York has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no plastic undetectable guns.
Ghost Guns Regulated
North Carolina has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
North Dakota has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Ohio has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Oklahoma has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Oregon has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Rhode Island has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, no 3D printing of guns
Ghost Guns Regulated
South Carolina has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
South Dakota has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Tennessee has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Texas has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Utah has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Vermont has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Virginia has not adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- No plastic undetectable guns
Ghost Guns Regulated
Washington has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, no plastic undetectable guns
Ghost Guns Regulated
West Virginia has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Wisconsin has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Wyoming has not adopted this policy
Myth
Homemade ghost guns are primarily for hobbyists.
Fact
Ghost guns are intentionally designed and sold to require as little technical expertise, time, and effort as possible to assemble, unlike home-built firearms made by true hobbyists. And they are predictably emerging as a weapon of choice for criminals, white supremacists, and other people legally prohibited from buying guns.
Recent Ghost Guns Progress
VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Bill Prohibiting Ghost Guns Will Become Law Following Tireless Advocacy by Maryland Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Volunteers
The Maryland chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement in…
Moms Demand Action Volunteers, Gun Violence Survivors Stand With Governor Jay Inslee As He Signs Three Gun Safety Bills Into Law
Today, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed three gun safety bills into law — HB 1705, legislation prohibiting ghost guns; HB 1630, legislation prohibiting firearms in…
Kansas Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Prohibit Ghost Guns After Shooting at Olathe East High School – Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Applaud Swift Commitment to Gun Safety
The Bill Introduction Comes After Reports Showing that the Firearm Used in the Recent Shooting at Olathe East High School which Left Three Wounded Involved…
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