Maine Coalition is Calling For Ban on Certain Type of Firearms

In light of recent national events, a coalition in Maine has renewed a call for a ban on a particular type of firearm.

According to an article from WGME 13, the Maine Gun Safety Coalition is proposing a measure that would ban the creation, use and sale of so-called ghost guns. But what exactly constitutes a ghost gun?

According to an excerpt from Brady United,

"Ghost Guns are unserialized (and therefore untraceable) firearms that are put together by components purchased either as a kit or as separate pieces. These firearms are fully functioning guns that are as lethal as a fully finished, serialized firearm." 

The newly proposed measure from the Maine Gun Safety Coalition would ban these types of firearms in Maine.

In the WGME article, former Maine Gun Safety Coalition Director, Geoff Bickford, said in part about the proposed measure,

"They're made of plastic and they're not going to get picked up at metal detectors. And they lack a serial number, so there's no way of tracing them."

Margaret Groban of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition told the news station:

"Ghost guns are a high priority. And they were a high priority before last week. We would like to see a ban on the possession and manufacture of ghost guns. And this doesn't mean that hobbyists can't still make a gun. It just means you take that completed firearm to a licensed dealer and they can stamp the serial number on it."

According to the news article, police departments around Maine are reporting that ghost guns are becoming more common in the commission of crimes around the state.

However, similar proposals to ban these types of weapons have failed over the last few years.