Brady Underscores Dangers of “Ghost Guns,” Untraceable Firearm Used by Suspect in Fatal Shooting of UnitedHealthcare

High-profile shooting puts spotlight on ghost guns crisis as Trump Administration threatens to reopen the ghost gun market and the Supreme Court currently considers a case on these dangerous weapons

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 10, 2024 — As police reveal that UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed with a reported ghost gun, Brady – the nation's oldest gun violence prevention organization – is warning of the ongoing danger of these untraceable, unserialized weapons that are put together with components that are 3D-printed or purchased without serial numbers. This high-profile shooting also comes as the Supreme Court prepares to rule in Garland v. VanDerStok, a case that will determine whether ATF can enforce the rule which regulates ghost gun components and kits like all other firearms.

Reports indicating that the suspect was in possession of a 3D-printed firearm suggest that the ATF rule has been successful in preventing the sale of traditional ghost gun components and kits, which require little skill or time to assemble into a complete and functional firearm. Such components and kits, ubiquitous prior to the implementation of the ATF rule and available commercially and online without background checks, were the main source of the exponential increase of untraceable firearms recovered at crime scenes across the United States.

Kris Brown, President of Brady, stated:

Today’s news is a grim reminder that ghost guns are easily accessible and as lethal as any other firearm. Ghost guns have long been intentionally marketed as unregulated and untraceable to appeal to those who seek to use them in crimes. But chillingly, President-elect Trump has repeatedly committed to protecting the unregulated status of these weapons – which put all Americans at risk. As we mourn the latest loss of life from gun violence in this country, it is past time that Congress pass the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act to prevent the further proliferation of both traditional and 3D-printed ghost guns. The alternative is accepting a future where anyone can go online, buy a kit, and assemble an untraceable, lethal weapon with no background check and no questions asked.

Steve Lindley, Senior Programs and Policy Manager at Brady, said:

We’ve seen meaningful drops in ghost gun recoveries since President Biden’s Executive Action, but without continued ATF regulatory authority over these weapons, law enforcement will continue to face hurdles as they investigate gun crimes and protect public safety. The Supreme Court must recognize that ghost guns are firearms, plain and simple, and require the same oversight as any other deadly weapon.

Brady’s Commitment to ‘No Notoriety’:

The ‘No Notoriety Protocol’ is a pledge not to increase attention to individual perpetrators of mass shootings and other high-profile and high-casualty crimes, especially by avoiding a shooter’s name and image. Particularly in relation to mass shootings, notoriety and infamy have been found to be motivating factors for perpetrators. By minimizing attention to and amplification of shooters and their agendas, media and individuals can help reduce the risk of “copycat” crimes and further harm and radicalization.