Collection of 3D-printed firearms displayed at the National Firearm Reference Vault, West Virginia, 2024 Ghost guns may be 3D-printed, assembled from kits, or pieced together from separately acquired parts. (more) ghost gun weapon Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/technology/ghost-gun Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/technology/ghost-gun Also known as: homemade firearm Written by Frannie Comstock Frannie Comstock is a writer based in Chicago. Frannie Comstock Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 6, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Also known as: homemade firearm (Show more) Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is a ghost gun? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "A ghost gun is a homemade firearm that is assembled by the owner from separately purchased pieces, a kit, or through 3D printing. They are virtually untraceable." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How are ghost guns acquired? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Ghost guns can be acquired by purchasing parts online or using a kit. They do not require a background check and lack serial numbers, making them unregistered and potentially untraceable." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What notable incidents have involved ghost guns? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Notable incidents involving ghost guns include the 2017 Rancho Tehama, California, shootings by Kevin Janson Neal, the 2019 Santa Clarita, California, high-school shooting, the 2022 assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, and a 2023 mass shooting in Philadelphiau2019s Kingsessing neighborhood." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What legal challenges have been made to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosivesu2019 (ATF) rule to include ghost guns under the same category of regulation as any other firearm? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In 2022 a lawsuit was filed against the ATF rule by Texas firearm owners and gun rights groups. The rule was blocked by a district judge, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, but the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the rule to remain in place pending the results of a full hearing in October 2024." } } ] } Top Questions What is a ghost gun? A ghost gun is a homemade firearm that is assembled by the owner from separately purchased pieces, a kit, or through 3D printing. They are virtually untraceable.

　　How are ghost guns acquired? Ghost guns can be acquired by purchasing parts online or using a kit. They do not require a background check and lack serial numbers, making them unregistered and potentially untraceable.

　　What notable incidents have involved ghost guns? Notable incidents involving ghost guns include the 2017 Rancho Tehama, California, shootings by Kevin Janson Neal, the 2019 Santa Clarita, California, high-school shooting, the 2022 assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, and a 2023 mass shooting in Philadelphia’s Kingsessing neighborhood.

　　What legal challenges have been made to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) rule to include ghost guns under the same category of regulation as any other firearm? In 2022 a lawsuit was filed against the ATF rule by Texas firearm owners and gun rights groups. The rule was blocked by a district judge, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, but the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the rule to remain in place pending the results of a full hearing in October 2024.

　　ghost gun, gun or rifle that is assembled by the owner, either from separately purchased pieces or as part of a kit. These weapons can also be made using 3D printers, though such firearms can typically fire only one bullet. These weapons are controversial, because ghost gun parts can be anonymously purchased online without a background check; they also lack the serial numbers associated with traditionally manufactured firearms, making them virtually untraceable. Types of ghost guns All types of homemade firearms are unregistered, lack serial numbers, and do not require a background check to acquire. Ghost guns have been used ...(100 of 1047 words)

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