They're also highly dangerous
In December 2024 the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, was shot dead as he walked to a business meeting in New York. His killer was dressed in a hooded jacket and was wielding what law enforcement believes to have been a ghost gun.
Ghost guns are best described as firearms that have been assembled by someone other than a licensed manufacturer. Generally built using a 3D printer or a kit bought online, they are becoming an increasingly pressing concern in the United States.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
If you have been following the news in the United States, you may have heard people using the term ‘ghost gun,’ and wondering what it means.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a ghost gun is a firearm that has been assembled by someone other than a licensed manufacturer.
Ghost guns are very difficult to track, because they are generally made without a serial number. It is for this reason that they are popular among criminals.
Although it may sound illegal to build your own firearm, in fact not all ghost guns are illegal, and not all firearms are required to have a serial number.
According to CBS, between 2016 and 2021 there were more than 45,000 ghost guns reported to the ATF as having been recovered by police from potential crime scenes.
In terms of how they are made, people looking to build a ghost gun generally have two options: build one using a 3D printer or assemble one from a kit.
Ghost guns are relatively cheap: it is possible to produce one of these weapons for under US$200, although according to officials the average price is around US$500.
They are also easily accessible. Kits are available online for all sorts of weapons, and until August 2023, anyone could purchase one without a background check.
Indeed, in 2018, a CBS reporter was able to purchase a gun similar to a Glock 9mm without having to provide a background check or submit to any waiting period.
Ghost guns also appear relatively simple to build. There are online tutorials explaining how to fit the parts of a fully functioning firearm together in under an hour.
If you are reading this and thinking that ghost guns must be illegal, think again. In general, according to the ATF, it is legal to make a firearm for personal use without a license.
However, as per the Gun Control Act, anyone who builds their own firearm using a 3D printer or otherwise must ensure that the weapon is ‘detectable.’
This means that there are a lot of ghost guns out there that are, in fact, illegal, despite the fact that in general people are allowed to build them.
It is also important to note that some states, including New York, where the recent high-profile ghost gun case happened, have their own additional laws related to these weapons.
In terms of the scale of the issue, experts in the United States have called ghost guns the country’s "fastest-growing gun safety problem."
Indeed, it is becoming increasingly common for law enforcement to discover that a ghost gun has been used in a high-profile shooting.
According to the authorities, the biggest problem with ghost guns is the fact that they do not include a serial number on their frames.
Without this, it is virtually impossible for law enforcement to track dealers who may be selling them illegally, either to minors or to someone without a license.
Of course, it is worth remembering that ghost guns are just one factor in the wider issue that is gun control in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 48,000 people were killed by firearms generally in the US in 2022.
The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson with what appeared to be a ghost gun has brought the topic of ghost gun regulation to the forefront.
During the Biden administration, the government has tried to regulate ghost guns by saying they should be treated in the same way as commercially available firearms.
Indeed, manufacturers of ghost gun kits must now include serial numbers on their products, and sellers are required to perform background checks on their purchasers.
In October 2024, the Supreme Court indicated that it would be willing to uphold the law, which has been challenged by gun rights groups.
If it makes a ruling that withholds the ATF's new regulation, this would mark a departure from the Supreme Court’s previous position, which was to be largely skeptical of gun regulations.
On the topic of firearms in general, US President-elect Donald Trump is a staunch defender of the Second Amendment and has referred to himself as the National Rifle Association’s "best friend."
Sources: (CBS) (BBC)
See also: Gun violence is the most common cause of death for children in the US
The untraceable weapons known as ghost guns
An increasingly pressing issue in the US
LIFESTYLE News
In December 2024 the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, was shot dead as he walked to a business meeting in New York. His killer was dressed in a hooded jacket and was wielding what law enforcement believes to have been a ghost gun.
Ghost guns are best described as firearms that have been assembled by someone other than a licensed manufacturer. Generally built using a 3D printer or a kit bought online, they are becoming an increasingly pressing concern in the United States.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.