Ghost guns, untraceable firearms that can be assembled at home, have become a significant issue in American gun violence. The weapon linked to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson may be a ghost gun covered by ongoing regulatory discussions.
Understanding Ghost Guns: A Growing Concern in US Gun Violence
Understanding Ghost Guns: A Growing Concern in US Gun Violence
Following the tragic murder of a healthcare executive in New York, the rise of ghost guns is under scrutiny as officials investigate the weapon allegedly used in the crime.
Ghost guns, a term that refers to firearms that can be constructed at home, are gaining attention amid investigations surrounding the murder of healthcare executive Brian Thompson in New York. The gun recovered from suspect Luigi Mangione was described by police as a semi-automatic pistol that might have been assembled using a combination of parts potentially produced by a 3D printer. Authorities have noted that a precise evaluation by ballistic experts is required to authenticate its origins.
These firearms, often assembled from kits, lack serial numbers and thus remain largely untraceable. The weapon found with Mangione was said to be capable of firing 9mm rounds and included features like a silencer, causing concern among advocacy groups that label ghost guns as “the fastest growing gun safety problem” in the United States.
The ease of assembly for ghost guns is noteworthy, with previous regulations allowing individuals to purchase parts online without undergoing background checks. Tutorials make it feasible to compile a functioning firearm in under an hour. This aligns with the Trump administration's stance on minimizing regulations surrounding gun ownership.
Ghost guns represent an escalating threat, as indicated by data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which reported around 20,000 ghost guns discovered in criminal activities during 2022 alone—a tenfold surge from 2016. The absence of serial numbers makes it exceedingly difficult for law enforcement to track these weapons, especially when they enter the hands of minors.
Despite the alarming trends, the discussions surrounding regulation and safety have been historically complicated. Efforts by the Biden administration, that include treating ghost guns similarly to commercially manufactured firearms, have been met with both support and resistance from the gun rights community. In a significant legal development, the US Supreme Court indicated a potential openness to maintaining regulations that include mandatory serial numbers and background checks for ghost gun kits.
As the urgent conversation regarding gun violence continues to unfold in America, experts express skepticism about the likelihood of meaningful change following high-profile incidents like Thompson's murder. With firearm-related deaths surpassing 48,000 in 2022 according to the CDC, the debate surrounding ghost guns reveals deep-rooted challenges in addressing the nation's expansive gun culture.
