Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes Department of Homeland Security to Address Growing Threat of ‘Ghost Guns’
Prevalence of 'Ghost Guns,' Firearms Assembled from ‘Do-It-Yourself' Gun Making Kits, Increased by Over 1,000 Percent in Five Years
Kits and Blueprints to Create Guns Without Serial Numbers are Often Purchased from Unlicensed Sellers, Undetectable by Law Enforcement
Lack of Regulation Currently Allows Buyers to Circumvent Background Check Requirements to Obtain Firearms
Read the Bill Here
Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Bennie Thompson (MS-02) in introducing the ‘Bolstering Security Against Ghost Guns Act’ to enhance the United States Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) response to the threat posed by ghost guns. Ghost guns are unserialized and untraceable firearms that can be bought online and easily assembled at home without having to pass a background check.
This bill would direct DHS to study and gather information on how ghost guns impact homeland security and how they contribute to domestic terrorism and extremism threats, to develop a strategy to address the proliferation of ghost guns, and to work to bolster counter-ghost gun operations across the homeland security components. This includes increasing the cross-agency collaboration with other federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state, local, and tribal law enforcement.
“As the weapon of choice for criminals and domestic extremists alike, ghost guns are one of the largest threats to the safety and security of Americans nationwide,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “The federal government must stay ahead of 21st century firearm threats, and that must include a strong, comprehensive plan from the Department of Homeland Security to address and eliminate ghost guns. These untraceable firearms are doing untold harm to our communities and families, and we must do more to get them out of the hands of criminals and off our streets.”
Ghost guns are currently one way that criminals and domestic extremists evade federal restrictions on the sale and purchase of firearms. Since 2016, there has been a more than 10-fold increase in ghost gun seizures and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) reports that criminal use of ghost guns has risen by more than 1,000 percent since 2017. In 2021, DHS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Counterterrorism Center, and ATF assessed that ghost guns are likely “favored” by domestic violent extremists and violent criminals for use in attacks and criminal activities.
The “Bolstering Security Against Ghost Guns Act” directs DHS to take a comprehensive approach to addressing the threats posed by ghost guns. This bill would:
- Direct DHS to establish a policy for information sharing and collaboration with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to improve prevention, preparedness, and response to acts of terrorism and violence associated with ghost guns.
Direct the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) to build upon joint-intelligence assessments regarding homeland security threats associated with ghost guns and unfinished frames and receivers associated with a foreign terrorist organization or other individuals in furtherance of an act of terrorism or targeted violence.
Require DHS I&A to develop and disseminate an additional homeland security threat assessment on cross-border threats posed by U.S.-sourced ghost guns and unfinished frames and receivers that identifies
the range of sources for acquiring, manufacturing, and trafficking ghost guns;
homeland security threats associated with ghost guns and unfinished frames and receivers; and
the level of each associated threat from ghost guns and unfinished frames and receivers.
Direct the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center to research and provide guidance on how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to homeland security threats associated with ghost guns.
Require Transportation Security Administration to report incidents involving the unauthorized carriage of a ghost gun at screening checkpoints.
Direct Homeland Security Investigations within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to improve Federal law enforcement information sharing, including enhanced coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, about cross-border illicit smuggling trends and patterns associated with U.S.-sourced firearms, including ghost guns.
Combating gun violence and keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals are foundational to Congressman Goldman’s work to make our communities safer.
In August, Goldman cosponsored the ‘Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act’ to ban the sale of ghost guns. He also cosponsored a package of legislation that both establishes a federal “red flag” program and strengthens state and local efforts to support the implementation of extreme risk protection order laws and cosponsored the ‘End Gun Violence Act’ to prohibit individuals convicted of a violent misdemeanor from purchasing handguns or ammunition for five years after conviction.
In November, Congressman Goldman cosponsored the ‘Responsible Firearms Marketing Act,’ which would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study the dangers of unfair and deceptive marketing and advertising practices utilized by the gun industry.
Congressman Goldman is a Vice Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and is Chair of the Dads Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Working Group.
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