So-called “ghost guns” could become illegal in Michigan under new bills in the state House.
Those are firearms often 3D printed or assembled in kits that don’t have serial numbers, making them very hard for law enforcement to track.
One bill in the package would require owners of existing ghost guns to get them serialized within 18 months. Anyone who builds a firearm, unfinished frame, or receiver at home would have 10 days after finishing their project to get it serialized.
Bill sponsor state Rep. Morgan Foreman (D-Pittsfield Twp) said it’s a public safety issue more than it is a Second Amendment issue.
“No one needs an untraceable ghost gun. These weapons are designed to avoid detection, responsibility, and justice. These are tools for people who intend to do harm and get away with it,” Foreman said during a press conference Wednesday.
But critics of the bills say they don’t believe there’s a need for them.
Representative Phil Green (R-Millington) chairs the Michigan legislative Second Amendment Caucus. Green said it'd be better to have tougher enforcement of existing laws.
“We're dealing with situations where we're outlawing basically possession of something and then if they do something wrong, now there's three or more crimes that you've committed. How about we just deal with what you did wrong?” Green said.
Under the legislation, building, selling, or having a firearm, frame, or receiver without a serial number would become a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Democrats introduced similar bills last term when their party controlled the entire legislative process but failed to pass. The bills are likely to have a tougher time now that Republicans run the House again.
Similar legislation in the Democratic-controlled Michigan Senate, however, is scheduled for a committee hearing in that chamber Thursday at noon.
