A 26-year-old accused of murdering a UnitedHealth executive in New York was arrested in Pennsylvania with a backpack that reportedly contained a ‘ghost gun.’
According to the U.S. government, ghost guns are often associated with criminal use because they can be assembled from parts bought online or 3D-printed. These firearms lack serial numbers, making them untraceable and bypassing the background checks required for traditional guns.
Key Facts About Ghost Guns and Their Manufacturing Process:
Ghost weapons do not have serial numbers. By producing their firearms, owners can evade background checks and laws.
Ghost firearms, according to US President Joe Biden’s administration, are designed for criminal purposes. The administration released a rule to control these firearms in 2022. The Supreme Court indicated in October that it would be open to upholding the regulation, which has been contested.
Ghost gun advocates claim that their purpose is for hobbyists. They further contend that the Second Amendment allows citizens to manufacture such weapons.
Ghost gun kits are available at gun fairs or online, provided the frames are not completely operational. Users can machine and assemble them quickly and affordably.
Federal law permits the sale of such firearms’ frames or “receivers” in an 80 percent complete condition. Along with the frame, the remaining parts needed to assemble a working pistol are frequently sold in a kit. Additionally, drill bits and jigs are provided so that the buyer can mill the frame using a basic drill press, which can be purchased for less than $100.
3-D printing can be used to create the firearms. This is the process of turning a three-dimensional digital model into a tangible object by adding layers of metal, plastic, or other materials.
Although it does not need the metal components to be non-removable, a federal law in the United States prohibits firearms that do not have enough metal to be picked up by screening devices in public areas like courthouses and airports. Manufacturers of 3-D printed plastic firearms have produced metal parts that are not necessary for the firearm to operate.
