Friends –

Today we're writing with an important and time-sensitive request: will you submit a comment on ghost guns? You can play a meaningful role in the effort to ban ghost guns—firearms that are untraceable, available without a background check, and increasingly used in serious crimes.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is seeking public input about their proposed rule to ban ghost guns. So far, thousands of people have submitted comments. But the gun lobby is outpacing us, so we need our supporters to speak up and make their voices heard before the deadline on Thursday, August 19th.

It only takes a few minutes to make a big difference. Here’s how:

Step 1: Use this link: [link removed]

Step 2: Submit a comment of your own or copy and paste the sample comment we’ve included below.

We can’t stress enough how important this is. You have a chance to be a part of meaningful change. Please take this opportunity to make your voice heard before the deadline.

Thank you,

Adam

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Adam Skaggs
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
Chief Counsel and Policy Director


- - - COPY AND PASTE THIS SAMPLE LETTER - - -

I support the “ghost guns” rule that has been proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and I urge ATF to finalize the rule as proposed and regulate ghost guns the same as other guns.

Ghost guns are do-it-yourself firearms often made from kits bought online—no background check required. They also lack serial numbers, so they cannot be traced by law enforcement. By selling the key components of firearms as intentionally unfinished rather than fully assembled firearms, ghost gun companies manage to skirt federal gun laws. Buyers who aren’t required to pass background checks can quickly and easily convert these unfinished parts into fully functional firearms using common household tools.

As a result, nothing is stopping a person prohibited from possessing a firearm from making a ghost gun. Ghost guns are frequently made and sold by traffickers because they are easier to obtain and harder to track than traditional firearms, leading to more and more ghost guns being traded in the black market and used in criminal activity. In crimes in major cities, including Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Washington DC, ghost guns present several major hurdles for law enforcement, which the DOJ’s proposed rule would address.

ATF’s proposed rule would change the definition of “firearm” to include components—like the parts that make up ghost gun kits—that are intentionally left unfinished. As a result, these parts could only be sold after a background check, and would have to be serialized. This would help stop the flow of these dangerous, untraceable weapons to people legally prohibited from possessing guns.

This is a commonsense solution to a critically important problem. I wholly support this rule and urge its immediate adoption.
 


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