Are Ghost Guns a Cause for Concern? Debunking the Hype Around Homemade Firearms

netherlands - Exploring the controversy surrounding 'ghost guns' and the use of homemade firearms in the United States and beyond.

A 'ghost gun' is a firearm that is assembled from individual parts that can be partially legally purchased online in the US. Some parts may require additional modification, such as drilling a hole to fit properly. Due to the increasing use of these unregistered DIY guns in shootings, President Biden proposed harsh penalties for builders and owners two years ago.

'In America, only the frame of a firearm is considered a weapon under the law,' explained police weapons expert Jaś van Driel in 2022 to De Telegraaf. 'All other components are freely tradeable. If you make a frame yourself, which is allowed, you can assemble a firearm with those components without registration. It is not illegal to make your own gun in the US, but once you trade it, it must have a serial number.'

The concern around ghost guns is less pronounced in the Netherlands due to stricter laws compared to US states, according to Van Driel. 'If you try to order parts in the Netherlands, you are already engaging in illegal activity,' he stated. 'Once the package crosses the border, you are breaking the law. Possession, assembly, finishing – all prohibited. There is one exception: frames of certain handguns are freely available in Austria, but you still need a barrel and slide.'

A different type of DIY gun can be crafted using a 3D printer, with a few cases already reported. In February, the police arrested a man on Schouwen-Duiveland for possessing a 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm. In November, a complete factory was discovered in Rhoon, with nine 3D printers producing firearm components. Metal parts kits were also found to create functional guns.

In the US, the '3D-printed gun' project serves as a defiance against gun control advocates, known mostly by the model FGC9 or 'fuck gun control.' 'This issue is exaggerated to showcase what is possible,' Van Driel noted. 'But looking at what someone then owns, I would hesitate to pull the trigger.'

One challenge is the barrel. 'The very first design, the Liberator, had a plastic barrel. Plastic cannot withstand high temperatures and a pressure of 3500 atmospheres. You could order a metal component, but that would immediately be illegal,' explained Van Driel. 'There are also models with a steel barrel, replaceable if it explodes. However, in that case, I would worry more about steel fragments in your face.'

An update reveals the mysterious death of the alleged inventor of the 3D-printed firearm, Jacob Duygu, in 2023. The FGC-9, invented by Duygu, has been used globally by criminals and terrorists for its lightweight and easily smugglable nature.

Duygu, a 28-year-old former German military member, adopted the online persona JStark1809, named after American Major General John Stark. His reported motto was 'Live Free or Die.'

While constructing a makeshift gun is possible, obtaining ammunition is another challenge. 'You cannot print gunpowder,' Van Driel warned against using fireworks materials to create bullets. 'It's as dangerous as holding a grenade.'

The regulation of firearms tightened significantly after the 1919 Russian Revolution out of fear of communist uprising. However, there are no legal restrictions for air rifles unlike some neighboring countries. High-powered air rifles or antique weapons using black powder are legal in certain cases.

Criminals do not favor these alternatives. 'Powerful air rifles or antique weapons do not contribute to crime statistics,' Van Driel pointed out. 'A 3D printer costs thousands of euros, while an illegal Balkan Kalashnikov goes for six hundred. Printing cannot compete with that.'