What is a ghost gun, the weapon allegedly used in the shooting of a New York CEO?
CBS NewsThe black pistol allegedly recovered from Luigi Mangione, the suspect arrested in connection with the murder of a healthcare executive, appears to be a ghost gun – a firearm that can be assembled at home, investigators say.
Officials said the device may have been made using a 3D printer, but it would need to be tested by ballistic experts to confirm.
The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has once again put the controversial weapon in the spotlight, which has been called “the fastest growing gun safety problem in the country” by advocacy groups.
Here’s what to know about these firearms.
What is a ghost gun?
Ghost guns are so-called because they are potentially untraceable. They can be assembled at home, from scratch, or via weapon parts kits, and they are not marked with serial numbers.
The weapon allegedly carried by Mr. Mangione in his backpack appears to be typical. The arrest warrant describes it as a “semi-automatic pistol with what appears to be a 3D-printed loaded receiver with a metal slide and silencer.”
Police said it was capable of firing 9mm rounds, and was consistent with the type of weapon used in the fatal shooting of Mr. Thompson in New York a week earlier.
The Biden administration, while arguing in favor of regulating firearms, has previously described ghost guns as “ridiculously easy” to put together.
By August 2023, anyone with Internet access could legally purchase many of the parts needed to build a gun without a background check. Online tutorials explain how to fit the pieces together into a fully functioning firearm in less than an hour.
How big of a problem are they?
Experts have called ghost guns the nation’s fastest growing gun safety problem. They are increasingly being used in high-profile shoots.
According to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), 20,000 suspected ghost guns were reported found by law enforcement in criminal investigations in 2022 – a tenfold increase from 2016.
Authorities say that without serial numbers on the frame, it is nearly impossible to track down dealers who are illegally selling these guns to minors or those without licenses.
One former government official doubted whether Mr. Thompson’s murder would change people’s minds. “Ghost guns are a new factor in a very complex and violent country,” Juliet Kayem said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Ms Kayyem, a former assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Homeland Security, said the US was finding it “very difficult” to ban guns.
More than 48,000 people are expected to die from firearms in the US in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Are ghost guns regulated?
The killing has renewed scrutiny of ghost guns — which the Biden government has tried to regulate by saying they should be treated the same as commercially available firearms.
Manufacturers of ghost gun kits are now required to include serial numbers on their products and conduct background checks on buyers.
In October, the U.S. Supreme Court signaled its willingness to uphold the law, which has been challenged by gun rights groups, saying authorities overstepped the bounds of the law already in place.
A decision upholding the ATF’s new regulation would mark a change for this Supreme Court, which has a conservative super-majority that has been largely skeptical of gun regulations.
More broadly on guns, US President-elect Donald Trump has positioned himself as a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, which grants the right to bear arms. Earlier this year, he told the National Rifle Association (NRA) that he was the group’s best friend.
