You may have heard about the phenomenon of Ghost guns in recent news stories that are sweeping the nation. Ghost guns are typically assembled from kits and their parts are made by 3D printers and lack a serial number or other markings. The danger of these guns comes from the fact that they can be purchased without a background check and children as young as thirteen have purchased kits online and manufactured them.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has no requirements on producing a serial number for guns that are produced at home. The guns are typically shipped 80% assembled, with 20% left for you to take care of finishing at home. The kit is fairly easy to assemble at home, it comes with directions or YouTube tutorials.
A typical gun purchased at a gun store will run you about $500-$700 before taxes. Meanwhile a ghost gun purchased online is relatively inexpensive at around $350. This makes them quite accessible to anyone with internet access.
The Biden Administration recently cracked down on ghost guns, by creating a law that requires all gun kits to have serial numbers printed on gun parts sold online.
“This proposed rule would help keep guns out of the wrong hands and make it easier for law enforcement to trace guns used to commit violent crimes, while protecting the rights of law-abiding Americans,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
A frightening statistic is that 40% of gun related crimes committed are now perpetrated with a ghost gun. There was recently a case in Georgia of a 13 year old boy purchasing a ghost gun online and assembling it himself from start to finish. He had been making guns and selling them to people. However, he was robbed by two customers, and in an act of self defense he fired at them, but ended up shooting and killing his 14 year old sister.
Having an illegal firearm is a felony in Massachusetts. There is a mandatory 18 months sentence if you are charged with a misdemeanor. However, if the firearm was loaded, that is another 2.5 years. If you have committed a different crime while having an illegal firearm like a ghost gun in your position, then the stakes are even higher. It is possible that you may face additional charges if you are caught with a ghost gun in your possession. The attorneys at Dhar Law can help you navigate these charges. Please contact our criminal defense attorneys with expertise in firearms.
