Congressional Democrats seek answers from ATF on efforts to track “ghost guns”

A group of Democrats in Congress are asking the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) about measures the agency has taken to keep homemade firearms – or ghost guns — from falling into the wrong hands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While the surge in firearm sales from federally licensed dealers has received nationwide attention, at least 16 companies that sell ghost gun kits have reported order backlogs and shipping delays due to overwhelming demand,” the Congress members wrote to ATF acting director Regina Lombardo. “The uptick in sales of ghost gun kits and parts have received substantially less notice, even though the increase in sales of ghost guns poses a direct threat to public safety and law enforcement… Because the proliferation of ghost guns is a serious problem, we write to request…information and documentation to probe how the ATF is monitoring, overseeing, and regulating the sale of ghost gun kits and unfinished frames and receivers, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The letter was signed by U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Karen Bass (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Henry Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Val Demings (D-FL), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), and Veronica Escobar (D-TX).

“Ghost guns are firearms constructed with component parts that can be obtained anonymously, without a background check, and which lack serial numbers. Sometimes referred to as ‘do-it-yourself guns,’ ghost guns are assembled by unlicensed persons, rather than manufacturers, and generally evade all the regulations that apply to the licensed firearms industry. While ghost guns may be made with 3D printers, the overwhelming number of ghost guns are assembled from parts or ‘kits.’ Numerous online and brick-and-mortar retailers offer ghost gun kits, which contain all the parts needed to assemble a firearm, including unfinished receivers, tools, and step-by-step instructions,” they wrote.