Why law enforcement fears new ghost gun bans won’t stop the surge
Democratic-led states are increasingly implementing bans on ghost guns, which are untraceable firearms made from kits or 3D printed parts. Despite these legislative efforts, law enforcement officials express skepticism about their effectiveness in curbing gun violence. Experts suggest that without aggressive prosecutions of offenders, simply banning ghost guns may not significantly reduce their prevalence among criminals.
- ▪Democratic-led states have moved to crack down on ghost guns in recent years.
- ▪Legislation banning ghost guns has been enacted in states like New York and Virginia.
- ▪Law enforcement officials believe that legislation alone is unlikely to stop criminals from using ghost guns.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4570924/law-enforcement-fears-ghost-gun-bans-wont-stop-surge/ |
| Publication time | Mon, 18 May 2026 11:00:00 +0000 |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Over the past several years, Democratic-led states have increasingly moved to crack down on “ghost guns,” unserialized firearms assembled from kits or homemade parts that are difficult for law enforcement to trace and have become the focus of gun control efforts. Earlier this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) included legislation in her latest budget barring 3D printers from having the software that allows ghost guns to be printed. Additionally, in April, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) approved a sweeping gun control package banning ghost guns in Virginia, following similar efforts in California, New York, and New Jersey. Recommended Stories Fauci knew: the lab-leak cover-up that broke America Thomas Massie’s useless tenure in Congress is coming to an end Xi warned America about Thucydides.
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