When it comes to gun laws, background checks and protecting schools usually dominate discussions. But there’s another topic our state and the country should pay more attention to: “ghost guns” — firearms manufactured in the home which can be obtained without background checks and lack serial numbers.
They are therefore untraceable by law enforcement if used in crimes. With all the newfound attention on these firearms, I set out to see how easy it is to buy and assemble one.
Experts say we must ensure these ghost guns are regulated like any other firearms. Our laws have failed to keep up with the pace of technology, and if we don’t take decisive action now, it will become a major problem.
Ghost guns are specifically designed to be attractive to firearm traffickers and people who can’t pass background checks. In 2016, a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office noted an “emerging reliance by criminal organizations on this source of weapons.” Since then, law enforcement agencies have increasingly uncovered arsenals of these weapons in investigations of organized gangs.
So I set out to see how easy it is to buy and assemble one. What I found should be a wake up call to all Coloradans.
I’m a firearm safety advocate and responsible gun owner, so I like to keep track of the latest firearm technology and modifications. When I first learned about ghost guns, or more specifically, “80 percent lower” kits — firearms that are mostly pre-assembled except for a few minor parts—I was intrigued.
These kits have become increasingly popular among hobbyists, collectors, and anyone that likes building things in their garage. But since they don’t contain fully operational firearms, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives doesn’t require them to have serial numbers, and they can be purchased without background checks.
That’s where the “ghost” part of “ghost guns” comes in. I realized that these do-it-yourself guns are untraceable, giving bad actors a chance to buy a gun without ever worrying about passing a background check. And this is what scares me the most as a responsible gun owner. One kid with a drill in his garage effectively has the means to build a ghost gun.
With all firearm purchases, including my last AR-15, I followed the same procedure. I go to my local gun store to fill out the paperwork for a firearm transfer and background check. After showing my ID at the counter, I wait a few minutes while my background check is processed through the National Instant Criminal Background Check system and verified by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s InstaCheck firearms unit.
It’s not a complicated process, and I’m happy to pass a background check before I walk away with a weapon. If that wasn’t already easy enough, getting my hands on a ghost gun was a walk in the park. I
opened my laptop, bought a kit in a few clicks, and three days later, the package arrived on my front porch.
Normally when I buy a weapon, the dealer confirms that I’m legally eligible to possess a firearm. All that was required to buy a ghost gun kit online was a working credit card.
After drilling holes into the frame, and shaving some metal off the top, I owned a completely untraceable, yet fully legal, AR-15 that I’d built in my garage. It shocked me.
I’m a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights to bear arms, but this ghost gun is something else entirely. As I completed this DIY gun in my garage, I realized that if we don’t do something soon, the next mass shooting will be committed with a ghost gun.
Ghost guns may very well increasingly turn up at crime scenes here in Boulder and across Colorado, putting all of our lives and safety at risk.
As a responsible gun owner, I understand the importance of undergoing a background check for every one of my firearms. These kits contain nearly identical weapons with capabilities that are just as deadly. They shouldn’t be treated any differently.
Conner Siegel is a gun owner, firearm safety advocate with Colorado Gun Owners for Safety, and a proud University of Denver graduate living in Niwot.
"Opinion" - Google News
June 20, 2020 at 05:02AM
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Guest opinion: Conner Siegel: Regulate ‘ghost guns’ - The Daily Camera
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