Should the U.S Ban Ghost Guns?
“Simply put, ghost guns are guns that can be built at home absent a manufacturer’s license. Ghost guns, sometimes referred to as ‘do-it-yourself guns,’ are assembled by unlicensed individuals, rather than licensed manufacturers. Ghost guns generally evade all the regulations which apply to the regulated firearms industry. They don’t have the serial numbers and other critical markings required of licensed manufacturers that allow police to trace guns recovered in crimes and return stolen guns to their rightful owners,” according to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. For more on gun control laws, explore the ProCon debate.
Source: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, “Frequently Asked Questions: Ghost Guns,” giffords.org (accessed Apr. 9, 2024)
PRO (yes)
Pro
“The Justice Department, within 30 days, will issue a proposed rule to help stop the proliferation of ‘ghost guns.’ We are experiencing a growing problem: criminals are buying kits containing nearly all of the components and directions for finishing a firearm within as little as 30 minutes and using these firearms to commit crimes. When these firearms turn up at crime scenes, they often cannot be traced by law enforcement due to the lack of a serial number. The Justice Department will issue a proposed rule to help stop the proliferation of these firearms.”
-White House, “FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Initial Actions to Address the Gun Violence Public Health Epidemic,” whitehouse.gov, Apr. 7, 2021
CON (no)
Not Clear or Not Found
Editors’ Note: In June 2018, the Trump administration settled with Defense Distributed to allow the company to sell 3D printed gun blueprints online. However, on July 31, 2018, deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley stated: “The President is committed to the safety and security of all Americans; he considers this his highest responsibility. In the United States, it’s currently illegal to own or make a wholly plastic gun of any kind, including those made on a 3D printer.”
-Sources for Editors’ Note: Amanda Holpuch, “Trump Queries 3D Printed Guns – Which Administration Helped Make Available to Public,” theguardian.com, July 31, 2018
Allie Malloy and Betsy Klein, “White House Supports Existing Law, Says 3D Guns Are Already Illegal,” cnn.com, July 31, 2018