‘Must be held accountable.’ - Rep. Ritchie Torres’ new plan aims at tackling ghost guns across the city

After months of violent incidents reported across the city, there’s one thing on the minds of many elected officials and members of law enforcement–ghost guns.

News 12 Staff

Apr 16, 2022, 12:32 AM

Updated 901 days ago

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After months of violent incidents reported across the city, there’s one thing on the minds of many elected officials and members of law enforcement–ghost guns.
These are guns without a serial number that can’t be traced. They’re often sold in parts that someone can put together at home.
On Friday, Rep. Ritchie Torres shared his plans to get these guns off the streets of New York.
Angellyh Yambo was only 16 years old when she was shot and killed by stray bullets exactly a week ago as she walked home from school.
She’s one of the latest victims of shootings across the five boroughs that have been connected to ghost guns.
Manufacturers must legally mark finished guns with serial numbers that help officials trace the gun back to the maker, seller, and customer.
However, ghost guns are made of separate parts, then put together at home. They are sometimes even sold in DIY kits.
A new bill from Rep. Torres would allow local governments and families of victims to sue companies who make or sell these guns.
“Those who manufacture and sell instruments of gun violence that prey upon our children must be held accountable,” said Rep. Torres.
President Joe Biden is taking aim at gun makers. He recently laid out new rules that require background checks for ghost guns and for individual gun parts to have a serial number.
A law was passed in 2005 that protects gun makers from civil lawsuits, but Torres says if passed, his new legislation would remove the shield on manufacturers that produce any component of a ghost gun.