What is a ‘ghost gun,’ and why do local experts consider them so dangerous?
Ghost gun: it sounds like something out of a movie, but officials in the Kansas City area say these weapons pose a serious threat to public safety. Johnson County’s District Attorney said on Monday, March 7, that the gun used in Friday’s Olathe East High School shooting was one of these unregulated firearms.
A “ghost gun” was also used less than a week earlier in a triple shooting in Lenexa, which police have ruled a murder-suicide. Court documents revealed that the weapon in question was an assault rifle assembled out of various parts.
What is a ghost gun?
A “ghost gun” is an unregistered firearm that is often assembled from a kit or purchased in parts to avoid scrutiny.
These weapons lack a serial number because they are not produced by an official manufacturer. This means that, like ghosts, they’re invisible to the systems that law enforcement uses to track legally sold and licensed firearms.
“What we’ve seen is people are purchasing ... these different parts and it’s a way to get around the firearms laws that exist,” said District Attorney Steve Howe told The Star in an exclusive interview on Monday, March 7. “It’s becoming a growing problem for public safety because individuals otherwise who would not be able to possess a firearm are purchasing them this way.”
The kits used to assemble “ghost guns” are frequently purchased online, allowing buyers to avoid the scrutiny that can accompany traditional firearm sales and licensing procedures.
Anyone, including minors and people prohibited from purchasing firearms, can buy these kits without undergoing a background check or safety training. And the kits themselves often include all the tools and instructions you need to assemble these weapons at home.
Does the 2nd Amendment protect “ghost guns”?
Opinions vary on whether the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which protects the “right to keep and bear arms,” was intended to include modern weapons like “ghost guns.” But District Attorney Steve Howe said on Monday that the issue is not one of political opinion.
“I don’t think this is a Republican-Democrat issue, it’s not a pro-Second Amendment, anti-Second Amendment issue,” Howe said. “It’s something we can all agree on for public safety reasons, so I’m hopeful that if we can get the attention of Congress, then maybe we can get something passed to stop this and shut these companies down that are basically selling things that are causing death and destruction in our communities.”
Currently, no bills are being debated in Missouri or Kansas to restrict the sale of “ghost guns.” We’ll update this story if any get introduced.
Do you have more questions about firearms laws or public safety in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 11:51 AM.
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