Laws surrounding ghost guns are changing quickly. If you are prohibited from owning a firearm under state and federal laws, you cannot buy, sell or create ghost guns either. These weapons are predicted to become more regulated over time.
What are Ghost Guns?
Ghost guns are being used as a way to work around gun laws. New legislation to regulate their use is being written all the time. These guns are:
- Ghost guns are inexpensive
- Created using 3D printers
- Come as kits for the buyer to put together after purchase
- Look and feel like regular guns
- Operate the same as a typical guns
Ghost guns allow gun buyers a way to bypass gun laws. It is illegal to have an all-plastic firearm because they are undetectable.
How Ghost Guns are Used to Circumvent Gun Laws
People who want to manufacture, buy or sell guns that are not legally allowed use ghost guns as a workaround. Here are some features that make them desirable to people interested in breaking the law:
- They are not federally regulated yet
- They are no limits on the number of kits that can be purchased
- Ghost guns are very inexpensive
- These guns are marketed to people who want untraceable, unregistered weapons
- Are not regulated
- Do not have serial numbers
In many states, these guns can be purchased at gun shows. Recently, Pennsylvania laws have become stricter in the case of these ghost guns.
Who is Prohibited From Owning Ghost Guns in Pennsylvania?
Until August of 2022, Pennsylvania law had not closed the loopholes where ghost guns were concerned. People who could not own guns bought them anyway through ghost gun kits.
They are not illegal to buy and put together in Pennsylvania, except for Philadephia, where they are illegal. Some people are prohibited from owning, buying, selling, transferring, or having them in their possession. The prohibited people are as follows:
- If they have been told to relinquish their guns due to an active protection from abuse order, they are disqualified from possessing a ghost gun
- People who have served a misdemeanor sentence of longer than one year are prohibited from ghost gun ownership
- Felons are not allowed access to ghost guns
- Individuals who have habitual drunk driving convictions of three or more over the last five years
- Domestic violence convictions, even misdemeanors, make ghost guns off limits
- Those who are determined to be mentally incompetent and those who have been committed to mental health facilities are not allowed to own ghost guns
This is not an exhaustive list. It is best to consult an attorney to make sure you are not among the prohibited. You should avoid ghost guns if you or someone who resides in your home is on the list of prohibited people.
Contact a Pennsylvania Attorney
If you illegally possess a ghost gun, you could face felony charges and a long sentence. Contact Ciccarelli Law Offices to speak with a Chester County criminal defense attorney specializing in Pennsylvania firearms violations for help if you have been charged with a ghost gun crime.