Massachusetts Legal Developments Blog

What Makes Ghost Guns So Dangerous?

Two men in Massachusetts who possessed ghost guns were sentenced to prison on drug and firearm charges in August of 2022. The men were sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve three years at a facility after pleading guilty to the possession of ghost guns as well as illegal drugs. The Superior Court Justice sentenced the defendants to three years of jail time followed by seven years of probation.

The Attorney General commented that guns without serial numbers have become a preferred weapon for drug dealers and violent criminals due to their untraceable nature. These guns also do not require a background check to purchase. These firearms can be easily produced from kits that can be bought cheap on the internet. 

Ghost Guns Growing More Common

Most law enforcement agencies have commented that approximately 30% or more of the firearms that are recovered after being used in crimes are privately manufactured firearms.

Privately manufactured firearms, or ghost guns, are produced outside of the regulatory framework, which means that these firearms do not have serial numbers and are not capable of being traced by law enforcement if used in a criminal offense.

To combat the use of ghost guns, law enforcement has begun to consider strategies that make it more difficult to purchase ghost guns and ammunition. For law enforcement to intervene and do something about ghost guns, they need to know that the firearms exist. Ghost guns are not always traceable, though. This makes it challenging for law enforcement to do something about these firearms.

Ghost guns are often made from kits. Elements from these guns are then created on 3D printers and lack serial numbers. Because these guns are not regulated, the guns can be acquired without undergoing a criminal background check.

No requirements exist for placing serial numbers on firearms made at someone’s residence. The guns are fairly easy to assemble. Typically, gun purchases at gun stores run from $500 to $700, while ghost guns can be purchased for around $350, making them much more accessible.

To crack down on ghost guns, the Biden administration passed a measure recently addressing ghost guns by creating a law that requires all gun kits to have serial numbers printed on gun parts that are sold online.

Contact a Firearm Defense Attorney

If you or a loved one is charged with an offense related to a ghost gun or another type of weapon, one of the best things that you can do is contact an experienced Massachusetts criminal defense attorney. Contact Attorney Edward R Molari today to schedule a free case evaluation.