ESPAILLAT & BLUMENTHAL INTRODUCE BICAMERAL LEGISLATION TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM UNTRACEABLE GHOST GUNS

House Bill Co-Led by Reps. Thompson, Dean, and Schneider

Loopholes in current statutes allow anyone – including felons, traffickers, & extremists – to manufacture or assemble untraceable firearms using a 3-D printer or do-it-yourself kit

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), and Mike Thompson (D-CA) as co-leads, reintroduced the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act (H.R. 4992), legislation to ban dangerous “ghost” guns. These weapons, which are easily assembled with a 3-D printer or a do-it-yourself gun making kit purchased from an unlicensed seller, can be obtained without passing a background check and have become the weapon of choice for criminals and extremists. Without a unique serial number, these guns are often untraceable and impede investigations by law enforcement. The bill would require online and other sellers of gun-making kits to comply with federal firearm safety regulations.

“Gun violence has taken far too many lives and affected countless families around our nation,” said Congressman Espaillat. “Ghost guns are propelling this crisis, as these weapons are self-assembled, untraceable, and can allow criminals to evade firearm background checks. This has presented an ever-growing challenge for law enforcement agencies, as the number of ghost guns recovered at crime scenes has increased exponentially over the past few years alone. Our bill, the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act, would codify the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ (ATF’s) authority to regulate and track these deadly weapons. We cannot ignore the public health implications facing the country as a direct result of ghost guns and our bill would implement commonsense solutions to help combat this crisis.” 

“Ghost guns are a major threat to public safety and law enforcement’s ability to protect our communities,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Without serial numbers and readily available for anyone to assemble, these untraceable weapons are a convenient tool for those that hope to cause harm. Our measure closes the gaping loopholes that allow domestic abusers, criminals, and terrorists to bypass background checks. A homemade gun is still a gun. Subjecting these weapons to the same safety measures and requirements will save lives.” 

“Untraceable ghost guns are the fastest growing gun violence threat in our country, and they pose a significant risk to our communities and law enforcement,” said Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson. “The Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act will help us crack down on the proliferation of ghost guns and keep these untraceable guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for American children, and we must put measures like this in place to help save lives and keep our kids safe.” 

“If someone cannot pass a federal background check, they should not be allowed to possess a firearm under any circumstances,” said Rep. Brad Schneider. “They especially should not be able to circumvent the background check process entirely by purchasing the requisite parts online to assemble their own, often untraceable, firearm. The growing gun violence in our communities is at the top of the list of concerns for our local police – particularly, violence from ghost guns. I am proud to help introduce the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act with Representatives Espaillat, Dean, Thompson, and Senator Blumenthal to close this dangerous loophole and prevent more lives lost to preventable gun violence.”

“We cannot solve our gun violence problem without tackling untraceable ghost guns that are devastating our inner cities, suburbs, and rural communities – and are a threat to our police who work to protect us,” Congresswoman Madeleine Dean said. “Slowing and stopping the circulation of these untraceable weapons must be a priority – and the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act will help us crack down on the spread of ghost guns and stop these weapons from terrorizing our communities.” 

The use of ghost guns across the country has been dramatically increasing. According to ATF, the number of ghost guns recovered and traced by law enforcement went from 1,629 in 2016 to 19,273 in 2021 – a more than 1000% increase.  

Amongst other measures, the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act would permanently include the core building blocks of ghost guns – unfinished frames and receivers – in the definition of “firearm” under federal law. In doing so, online sellers and other gun kit manufacturers and distributors selling frames and receivers that can “readily” be converted into fully functional weapons would be required to comply with the same federal regulations that govern the production and distribution of completed firearms. 

It also includes a requirement that ghost gun sellers have a manufacturer’s license and put a serial number on the frame or receiver included in each gun making kit, and that purchasers of ghost guns undergo a background check.  

In the Senate, the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

The legislation is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Giffords, Newtown Action Alliance, and Sandy Hook Promise.
 

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