What are Ghost Guns?
Ghost guns are untraceable, DIY firearms that can be assembled from kits bought online, at stores, or at gun shows—without background checks or serial numbers. In California and across the nation, these weapons have fueled homicides, mass shootings, and daily acts of violence, evading regulation and accountability.
- Can be assembled in under 30 minutes
- No serial number = no traceability
- Kits are available to minors and felons
- Often used in mass shootings and gang-related crime
Taking Action: AB 1621 is Now Law
On June 30, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1621, authored by Assemblymember Gipson, into law. The bill is now one of the strongest ghost gun laws in the nation, making it illegal to manufacture or possess unserialized gun parts and kits.
Key Provisions of AB 1621:
- Bans the sale and possession of unserialized firearm parts
- Requires background checks for buyers of gun parts
- Closes loopholes exploited by online retailers and unregulated sellers
- Makes California the first state with comprehensive enforcement on ghost guns
A National Model for Gun Violence Prevention
AB 1621 was backed by national gun safety organizations:
"This bill is an elegant solution to an extraordinary crisis… It will stop untraceable, fully functional firearms from spreading across the state.""
— Brady Campaign
"An unaccountable ghost gun industry has flouted our laws for years. That ends now. Thanks to Assemblymember Gipson's leadership, California will be safer tomorrow than yesterday."
— Giffords Law Center
Videos
Gipson Hopes Legislation Banning Ghost Guns Will Bring Peace of Mind
Gipson Touts Legislation to Ban Ghost Guns and Prevent Gun Violence
Assemblymember Gipson Highlights President Biden’s Executive Order Regarding Ghost Guns