Frequently Asked Questions About Ghost Guns
Homemade firearms that can be procured without a background check and do not have serial numbers, known as ghost guns, pose unique risks to community safety.
In this fact sheet series, the Center for American Progress will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about key policy issues related to gun violence prevention. With an average of 106 people killed with a gun every day and thousands more suffering the lifelong impact of gun violence, it is more urgent than ever for policymakers to take action to address this public health epidemic.
Homemade firearms that can be procured without a background check and do not have serial numbers, known as ghost guns, pose unique risks to community safety.
A dangerous gap in federal law allows gun dealers to proceed with a sale before a background check has been completed—enabling people who are otherwise prohibited from gun possession to continue to buy guns.
Extreme risk protection orders provide a much-needed remedy to temporarily remove firearms during a period of temporary crisis.
Assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines are weapons of war that have no place in America’s communities and should be banned.
Universal background checks are a crucial foundation for a strong system of gun safety laws that will help reduce gun violence and save lives.