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Ok, so the way "ghost guns" work is that you can buy (without a background check) what's called an '80% lower' which is basically a chunk of metal that hasn't had quite enough holes drilled in it to technically qualify as a firearm yet.
You can *legally* buy these and finish them off at home using a drill press or even just a power drill and a jig.
You then can buy all of the other parts to finish the gun off by mail order or in a gun store, again, with no background check.
You then can buy all of the other parts to finish the gun off by mail order or in a gun store, again, with no background check.
You have, at this point, assembled a firearm with no record of you having done so.
The 'lower receiver' that you drilled out is pretty forgiving in terms of machining errors. The gun might rattle a bit, but it'll still work fine.
The 'lower receiver' that you drilled out is pretty forgiving in terms of machining errors. The gun might rattle a bit, but it'll still work fine.
The easiest way to solve the ghost gun problem would seem to be to simply require background checks for other, less forgiving parts, like barrels, bolt carrier groups and trigger groups (ie. stuff that only serves on purpose which is as part of a firearm).
Machining a barrel is much more difficult and requires much more specialist equipment than drilling out a lower receiver.
Plus, if you screw up, the gun could very well explode in your face.
Same goes for the bolt carrier group, you couldn't make an 80% version of this.
Plus, if you screw up, the gun could very well explode in your face.
Same goes for the bolt carrier group, you couldn't make an 80% version of this.
Here is an 80% lower - this is only considered a firearm (and so subject to background checks) once it has had all of the relevant holes drilled in it.
You'll notice it comes with the jig and the drills required to do so, all for $75, with no background checks.
You'll notice it comes with the jig and the drills required to do so, all for $75, with no background checks.
Here's an example of a complete upper assembly you can buy online, again, with no background check in most states.
Put those two together, add a trigger group, stock, mainspring and a magazine (all one-clickable) and you have a fully functional AR-15 with no record of it.
Put those two together, add a trigger group, stock, mainspring and a magazine (all one-clickable) and you have a fully functional AR-15 with no record of it.
Here are the parts for finishing off the lower receiver, this kit costs $60 and again, requires no paperwork.
