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Ghost Guns in New York:

The DIY Firearms Challenge

In the quiet stretches of rural New York, a new challenge is emerging in the form of “ghost guns”, homemade firearms assembled from kits or 3D-printed parts that lack serial numbers, making them untraceable. These DIY weapons have gained popularity among individuals seeking to bypass traditional gun control measures, raising significant concerns for law enforcement and policymakers. It is important to remember that the tragic shooting of United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson was done by a 3-D printed ghost gun.

In recent years, New York State has witnessed a notable increase in the recovery of ghost guns. In 2023, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported recovering 394 ghost guns. This figure rose to 438 in 2024, and as of the first two months of 2025, 40 ghost guns have already been seized. Focusing on specific areas within the state, Rochester police recovered 86 ghost guns in 2023. In Queens, law enforcement efforts led to the recovery of 55 ghost guns in a single operation in 2024. Additionally, Poughkeepsie police reported that 25% of the 45 illegal handguns seized in 2023 were ghost guns, totaling approximately 11 such firearms. The rising prevalence of ghost guns has prompted increased law enforcement efforts and policy discussions aimed at addressing the challenges posed by these untraceable firearms.

Recognizing the dangers, New York State has implemented stringent laws to combat the proliferation of ghost guns. The Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act and the Jose Webster Untraceable Firearms Act make it illegal to possess, manufacture, or sell unserialized firearms and their components. The Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act: prohibits the possession and sale of unfinished firearm frames or receivers by individuals other than licensed gunsmiths or firearm dealers. The bill numbers for this legislation are S.13A in the Senate and A.2666A in the Assembly. Governor Kathy Hochul signed this act into law on October 28, 2021. TheJose Webster Untraceable Firearms Act criminalizes the sale of ghost guns and requires gunsmiths and firearm dealers to register and serialize firearms, including unfinished frames or receivers, that they assemble. The bill numbers for this legislation are S.14A in the Senate and A.613A in the Assembly. This act was also signed into law by Governor Hochul on October 28, 2021.Despite these regulations, the accessibility of ghost gun kits online poses ongoing challenges. In response, New York Attorney General Letitia James has taken decisive action, securing court orders to ban multiple gun distributors from selling and shipping ghost gun parts into the state. These efforts aim to stem the flow of untraceable firearms and enhance public safety. Violations can result in severe penalties, including felony charges, substantial fines, and imprisonment. With that said though do not start seeing ghost guns everywhere and in everything when they do not exist. The 3-D puzzles that allow you to assemble a gun are not ghost guns but rather just harmless toys and collector items. Nor are wooden or nerf gun building kits considered ghost guns. In order to be a ghost gun they have to possess a functionality when assembled in a way that allows them to operate as real weapons.

But, the question remains if technology is outpacing our regulations, how do we grapple effectively with this issue.