What Are Ghost Guns and Are They Legal?

A ghost gun is a firearm that has no serial numbers printed on it. In most cases, these guns are homemade devices. The term ghost gun is usually used by law enforcement agencies, gun rights advocates, gun control advocates and some individuals within the firearms industry. There’s a question as to where weather ghost guns are legal in the United States of America. So let’s examine this here:

Usually, when a manufacturer creates a gun, a serial number is placed and sold by dealers who require background checks. Ghost guns do not have serial numbers, and they could be manufactured anywhere by anyone. It is difficult to control the gun’s manufacturer and keep them out of the hands of dangerous individuals.

Ghost Guns and the Law

 

In the United States of America, it is legal to own or manufacturer ghost guns for individual personal use. It is by federal or state law. However certain individuals are not allowed by law to own weapons. Such as criminals like felons, mentally ill of violence, or those with a history of domestic violence.

The Second Amendment of the US Constitution allows the citizens of the US to bear arms.  That would be any law-abiding citizen of course and not those with criminal histories. It’s legal to own a ghost gun if you’re not a criminal in the United States of America.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation doesn’t track homemade Firearms.  Unfortunately, many criminals do use ghost guns, however. Legally-owned firearms account for only 3% of violent crimes.  Although the percentage of those crimes committed who use ghost guns is high, many of the weapons used in crime were legally owned by other people or were stolen (or somehow found their way into the hands of a criminal who used them to commit these crimes).

There is one exception in U.S. law;  in the state of California, a measure passed that required all homemade firearms to have serial numbers engraved upon them. And owners need to pass background checks. California is the only state in the Union to have given any legislation to regulate ghost guns to date.  New York state has prosecuted some ghost gun crimes.

History of Illegal Ghost Gun Incidents

Tracing ghost guns to crimes is impossible since they do not have serial numbers. This makes them a weapon of choice for many criminals. The impossibilities of finding the sources of ghost guns make most law enforcement officers reluctant to try to trace them.  Police work requires a lot of time, something law enforcement doesn’t have a lot of frequently. So the police spend their time on more productive activities usually.

There have been a number of incidents that have taken place involving the use of ghost guns.

California

In California, there were major events that took place where ghosts guns used by criminals of a severe nature. A murder-suicide in Walnut Creek, California involving college students was committed with a ghost gun, as well as a shootout between bank robbers and police officers in Stockton California.

There was a mass shooting at a College in Santa Monica, California in 2013. The perpetrator, banned from possessing firearms, used ghost guns instead.

Gun Advocates

There is a range of opinion on ghost guns by different groups of people and the authorities. Gun advocates say that ghost guns are rarely used to commit a crime even though they are widespread. Supporters of gun rights such as anarchists and gun rights advocates claim that owning firearms is the right of every American and ghost guns protect the privacy of the individual.

Law enforcement officials say that due to the cost of the manufacturer of ghost guns,  most criminals will instead turn to legal or illegal commercial guns.

How to Legally Own a Ghost Gun

 

If you really want to own a ghost gun, and you want to do so legally, it is possible to manufacture your own firearms at home and own them legally in 49 states without serial numbers, registration or a background check.  In California, you can own a firearm of any kind. But all guns require serial numbers and background checks to qualify for legal ownership.

There are two reasons why you might not qualify for legal ownership of a gun in all 50 States. First is if you are mentally ill. And second, if you have a history of domestic violence. There are ghosts gun manufacturer kits available online, and those with no experience or gun knowledge can build a gun easily at home using these kits.