Within the confines of the Baltimore Police Department, a repository houses a vast assortment of artifacts, a testament to a past filled with gun afflictions and a glimpse into what may signify a changing tide. The majority of the firearms adorning the vault’s layers bear serial numbers revealing their provenance and owners, yet a significant fraction of recent acquisitions are custom-built and lack identifiable marks. Elaborating on the issue, the BPD Commissioner stated, ‘One could purchase components online, assemble them, and consequently own a fully functional, yet untraceable firearm.’
The emergence of privately manufactured, or ghost guns, at criminal scenes and accident locations across the nation has skyrocketed, creating an alarming surge in recent times, with an increase of almost 1700% between 2017 and 2023. Baltimore emerges as a representative sample of this escalating issue. In 2018, the police department apprehended only a dozen of these undetectable firearms. Fast forward to 2022, and the number escalated to over 500, discovered at scenes of murders, mass shootings, drug seizures, and vehicular check stops.
Currently, however, Baltimore is cautiously welcoming a considerable decline in ghost gun occurrences, hoping that it signifies a forward stride in the larger battle against nationwide gun violence. In the year 2024, the city’s law enforcement managed to recover 309 of these serial-numberless ghost guns. As per the latest data, police have already retrieved eight this year.
Authorities attribute this reduction largely to a series of regulatory measures at federal, state, and local levels imposed on gun kit sales during 2022 and 2023. These laws have curtailed online sales by mandating background checks and age verification of purchasers, even outright banning some sales in Maryland.
The Commissioner credited this legislation with creating a significant difference, not only in Baltimore city but also at a statewide level. The official emphasized that the recent crime data underscore the considerable influence these sensible regulations can wield. Daniel Webster, an esteemed authority on firearm policy at Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, agreed that the reduction in ghost gun usage is indeed noteworthy.
‘I intend to highlight quite how prolific the increase was before these policies were implemented,’ Webster stated. ‘Presently, we observe a marked transformation, with trends dramatically shifting in the reverse direction.’
Yet, according to some experts, the noteworthy progress owing to the new regulations may now be facing jeopardy. The firearm industry, under the Trump administration, has been lobbying vigorously to relax restrictions on gun kit sales, even filing a federal lawsuit to challenge the classification of gun components as fully assembled firearms.
The proprietor and founder of Defense Distributed, Cody Wilson, asserted, ‘Our business model does not include the sale of firearms. Therefore, my company will never need a federal firearms license and needless to say, will never conduct the NICS background checks.’ Cody is a named plaintiff in a Supreme Court case scheduled for this spring, which will decide whether restrictions like background checks and serialization for gun kits should be abolished. A verdict from the justices is expected by the end of June.
Wilson remains resolute in his endeavor to continue pushing the legal boundaries of gun kit manufacturing, citing his ongoing efforts in advancing technologies to present more options to customers in producing their own firearms, whether through the digital design or mechanical recreation of the items. Ghost guns, either assembled from parts bought online or crafted with 3D printers, are increasingly being associated with notorious violent episodes and mass shootings.
Recent events highlight the potential dangers of these untraceable firearms. Last month, a convicted criminal wielding a ghost gun allegedly shot and critically injured two kindergarten students at a California school playground. On the same day in New York City, a man armed with a homemade firearm was suspected of carrying out a high-profile execution on public pavement.
Ghost guns effectively circumvent all state and federal laws designed to regulate the acquisition of firearms. ‘The issue is anyone, a convicted felon, a minor, anyone able to access the internet can easily procure a kit and assemble a functioning firearm within an hour following a simple guide,’ Webster warned.
The threat isn’t just from the usual suspects. Until recently, DIY gun kits were particularly appealing to teens who circumvented retail legal restrictions by purchasing these kits online using only a credit card. Eric Tirschwell, the executive director of a gun safety campaign group, asserted, ‘This industry is seriously undermining parent’s efforts to safeguard their children, in effect arming teenagers contrary to the protective laws in place.’
The harm caused by ghost gun violence reverberates across the country. Tragic incidents involving these untraceable weapons include a 15-year-old gunned down in Philadelphia, two teenagers slain in Virginia following an online feud, and an attempted killing of a high school student in a bathroom in Maryland. One individual in Detroit recalls a near-fatal injury when accidentally shot in the face by his former best friend with a ghost gun in May 2021, which resulted in the loss of an eye.
‘Ghost guns, as the name suggests, are guns,’ said the victim. ‘They are firearms, projectiles, weapons capable of taking or nearly taking someone’s life, like in my case.’
Baltimore hopes that the descending trend in ghost gun violence, catalyzed by the implementation of recent restrictions, is not a passing occurrence. The Commissioner admitted, ‘The prevalence of these weapons means it will take us years to fully eliminate them from the streets.’
Despite the daunting task, the Commissioner remains committed, ‘Our dedicated officers tirelessly strive each day to recover these weapons and improve the safety of our city.’