Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
It has been illegal to sell ghost guns into New York City since February 2020.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix recently announced a lawsuit against five online retailers that have and continue to illegally sell and deliver gun components that are used to assemble illegal and untraceable firearms — known as ghost guns — into the city. As detailed in the lawsuit, five retailers based in Missouri, Washington, Florida, and North Carolina advertised and sold through their websites unfinished frames, receivers, and ghost gun kits to an investigator from the New York City Sheriff’s Office. The gun components were shipped directly to an address in New York City, in violation of New York state and New York City laws making such sales illegal. These gun components are easily assembled into illegal, untraceable, deadly weapons.
New York City’s complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against defendants:
- Arm or Ally, based in Kansas City, Missouri;
- Rainier Arms, based in North Auburn, Washington;
- 80P Builder, based in Largo, Florida;
- Rock Slide USA, based in Broadway, North Carolina; and
- Indie Guns, based in Orlando, Florida.
New York City’s lawsuit was filed simultaneously to a separate lawsuit filed by New York State Attorney General Letitia James against 10 defendants in New York State Supreme Court for fueling the gun violence crisis and endangering New Yorkers. Attorney General James’ comprehensive lawsuit alleges that 10 out-of-state gun distributors sold tens of thousands of illegal, unfinished frames and receivers to New Yorkers that were then converted into unserialized, untraceable handguns and assault-style weapons.
According to New York City’s complaint, the five ghost gun retailers delivered gun components and gun kits to a Sheriff’s Office undercover investigator at a Manhattan address, when such sales were already illegal under city and state law. Orders included so-called “unfinished” frames or receivers, also referred to as “80 percent” frames or receivers, which do not have serial numbers. The frames are offered for sale in kits, which allow a person — using commonly available tools — to assemble receivers and frames into fully-functioning, untraceable handguns. The Sheriff’s Office easily assembled a fully-functioning gun from the components and kits. Similar components are available to assemble semi-automatic assault weapons.
Ghost guns sold into New York City have ended up in the hands of convicted felons and other prohibited and unlicensed possessors, as well as underage purchasers.
Incidents involving ghost guns reflect a dangerously escalating trend. The NYPD recovered 17 ghost guns in 2018, 48 in 2019, 150 in 2020, 263 in 2021, and has already recovered 180 this year as of June 26th — a 181 percent increase over the same time period last year, and on pace to exceed last year’s total.
New York City is also asking the court to issue a preliminary injunction, ordering the defendants to immediately stop selling ghost guns into New York City. It has been illegal to sell ghost guns into New York City since February 2020, and the Sheriff Office’s undercover investigation revealed that these particular defendants have and continue to ignore the city’s restrictions.
