According to the city's lawsuit, "So-called 'ghost guns' -- home-assembled, unserialized, and untraceable firearms that are sold and purchased without regard to firearm regulations -- have become the weapon of choice for those seeking to evade firearm laws. Unsurprisingly, the number of ghost guns recovered at crime scenes has skyrocketed in recent years."
this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2023
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How do they get the serial number in the first place? And when they do, the ATF is still using a paper system and further more, private sales are legak and consitutionally protected. Finally, there isn't a registry and there can't be one.
Those companies sell 80% lowers. Basically chunks of metal that still need to be milled by a skilled machinist to become a usable firearm. And making your own guns is protected constitutionally.
Also all guns are mostly untraceable, serial numbers are usually of no help due to the fact this isn't CSI: Miami
"The manufacturers attempted to avoid liability by claiming it is selling parts, not guns. But the gun kits they sell can be assembled in minutes by virtually anyone," said Mayor Jim Kenny during a news conference on Wednesday. The city has seen a 300% increase in the number of ghost guns used in crimes over the last four years. In 2019, 95 were used. In 2020, that number increased to 250. In 2021, it doubled to 571. In 2022, the number of ghost guns used in a crime surged to 575. So far in 2023, 292 have been used in crimes including the mass shooting on Monday in Kingsessing.
Serial #'s can still be tracked back to the person that bought it, at least its a lead. Ghost guns don't even offer that.
Even if it were true that almost anyone could make a working gun with an 80% lower, whats the issue with that?
Knowing who bought it useless.Private sales are legal and happen all the time. Again, there isn't a registry, and there won't be one unless another constutional admendment is passed.
Nitpick: they're usually polymer, not metal. And the AR ones do take skill, but the Glock clones less so. Though an unskilled person might take a few tries to make a working one that won't also blow up in their hand.
In any case, I don't see anything in this article about motivation. Usually it's due to socioeconomic inequality or lack of mental health care, but there's nothing in the article about anyone calling for improvements there.
True, but in any case, what they are selling is not a gun. And we have the right to make our own guns.