Luigi Mangione has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Authorities say the suspect was found with a “ghost gun” a firearm assembled from parts, including a 3D-printed component, which are untraceable by law enforcement due to the lack of serial numbers. The man is facing charges in Pennsylvania related to weapons, forgery, and other crimes. The incident highlights the growing concern over ghost guns, which have become an increasingly prominent factor in US gun violence.
A “ghost gun” refers to firearms that are either bought as unfinished frames and receivers or constructed using 3D printers. These guns can be assembled at home, using parts that are legally available online. Unlike traditional firearms, ghost guns lack serial numbers, making them nearly invisible to authorities and harder to trace. Before 2022, these kits could be sold without background checks, and no minimum age requirements were enforced. Additionally, 3D printers allowed enthusiasts to create fully functional firearms and parts, further complicating law enforcement efforts.
While do-it-yourself gun kits date back to the 1990s, their use in violent crimes has increased significantly since the early 2010s. In California, where ghost gun sales have been outlawed, several high-profile shootings involved these weapons, including a 2013 mass shooting in Santa Monica and a 2019 school shooting in Santa Clarita. In 2022, a man prohibited from owning a firearm used a ghost gun to kill his three daughters and others before taking his own life.
The growing number of ghost guns recovered by police underscores the rising threat. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) seized 25,785 ghost guns in 2022, compared to just 1,629 in 2017.
At the federal level, ghost guns have been legal to own. However, they became more tightly regulated under the Biden administration. In 2022, the ATF introduced a rule requiring companies to add serial numbers to incomplete frames and receivers and conduct background checks for buyers. This move was met with resistance from gun kit manufacturers and Second Amendment advocates, leading to a legal battle. The case, Garland v VanDerStok, currently before the US Supreme Court, will determine the future of these regulations.
