GHOST Act Follows Continued Work by Congresswoman to Reduce Gun Violence
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the Gun Hardware Oversight and Shipment Tracking (GHOST) Act to help law enforcement prevent the spread ofunserialized firearms, also known as “ghost guns.”Police departments across the country are reporting a surge in ghost guns recovered from crime scenes, including firearms assembled using 3D-printed parts. The GHOST Act would help law enforcement stay ahead of this emerging threat by developing a system to observeinterstate shipments of gun kitsused to build ghost guns and detect individuals who are acquiring gun parts but are not licensed to possess a firearm.
Yesterday, Rep. Tokudajoined the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) at their Ke Kula Makaʻi Training Academy for a briefing and demonstration by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on how 3D-printing and the proliferation of gun kits are increasing the number of untraceable firearms in Hawaiʻi and across the country.
“Ghost guns made from legally purchased DIY-gun kits combined with3D-printed gun partspose a serious threat to the safety of our communities and our police officers. That’swhy I am proud to introduce this bill that will give our partners in law enforcement another tool they need to track and prevent the production and spread of these dangerous and illegal weapons,” said Rep. Tokuda. “Seeing firsthand how easy it is to print and assemble an untraceable weapon and create deadly firearm modificationsrenews my sense of urgency to close loopholes and give law enforcement the support they need toreduce gun violence, prevent tragedies, and make our communities safer.”
“The State of Hawai‘i is grateful to Representative Tokuda for taking our concerns of unserialized firearms, commonly referred to as ʻghost guns’, to the national forefront. In the present day, 3D printing has created the opportunity for criminals to obtain firearms by merely ordering unregulated firearm parts online and then illegally printing the regulated parts in the comfort of their homes. This bill moves the needle in the right direction to limit the availability of illegal firearms in our streets and those of our fellow states,” said Mike Lambert, Director of the Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement.
The GHOST Act is just the latest effort by Rep. Tokuda to tackle the threat of gun violence in Hawai‘i and nationwide. In March, Rep. Tokuda led a letter signed by 21 Members of Congress to UPS, the nation’s largest shipping company, urging them to review and update their policies for shipping gun parts and assembly kits, and enhance their collaboration with law enforcement to track shipments of gun parts that can be easily used to illegally build ghost guns. Last December, Rep. Tokuda convened a briefing with the Biden administration’s White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention for community leaders and local non-profits working to combat gun violence on Oahu’s west side and provide federal resources for community violence prevention for state and local agencies. The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention has since been eliminated by the Trump administration.
The GHOST Act has been endorsed by GIFFORDS and March for Our Lives gun violence prevention advocacy groups. Original cosponsors of the bill are Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Madeline Dean (PA-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Mike Levin (CA-49), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Danny Davis (IL-07), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dan Goldman (NY-10), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Dave Min (CA-47) and Shri Thanedar (MI-13).
Text of the bill can be found here.
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