Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has unveiled a new report from the California Department of Justice's Office of Gun Violence Prevention, focusing on the state's efforts to combat ghost guns. These firearms are manufactured by individuals without licenses and lack serial numbers or background checks. The report includes detailed data on ghost guns recovered from crimes in California, alongside research and narrative sources, illustrating the impact of these weapons and California's measures against them.

Attorney General Bonta stated, "This report documents just how dangerous the ghost gun industry is and how much harm its skip-the-background-check business model has done to California’s communities." He emphasized that California is making significant progress in addressing this issue and is setting an example for other states and Congress to follow.

Mike McLivley, Policy Director at the GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention, remarked on the importance of the report: "This important new report shows how California is starting to bend the curve on one of the most alarming facets of the gun violence epidemic: the proliferation of untraceable ghost guns."

Krystal LoPilato from Everytown for Gun Safety added, "This report tells the compelling story of how California spotted the emerging threat of ghost guns and took decisive action to slow the spread of these deadly DIY weapons."

The report outlines various actions taken by California, including law enforcement initiatives, litigation against ghost gun companies, local ordinances, and comprehensive legislation passed in 2022 and 2023. Notably, there was a 23% decrease in ghost guns recovered from crimes between 2021 and 2023.

Despite progress, concerns remain about new technologies enabling illegal production without background checks. To counter this, California has implemented leading legislation such as AB 1089. The report includes a guide summarizing relevant state laws.

Litigation efforts are also highlighted in the report. In 2022, ATF revised federal rules related to ghost guns. DOJ defended these rules but also challenged them in certain cases where loopholes remained unaddressed. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments regarding these regulations soon.

Launched by Attorney General Bonta in 2022, OGVP aims to develop strategies against gun violence with statewide stakeholders. It has previously published reports on gun violence impacts and prevention methods using court protection orders. Over three decades, California's firearm homicide rate has significantly decreased compared to national figures.

A copy of OGVP’s report on ghost guns is available online.