# Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act of 2023

This bill addresses what are commonly called "ghost guns"—firearms that are assembled from parts or kits without serial numbers and can't be traced by law enforcement. The legislation would require that any firearm parts sold as a kit (meaning all the pieces needed to build a complete gun) must include a serial number, just like guns sold by licensed dealers. Additionally, the bill would regulate the sale of unfinished firearm frames and receivers—the core metal parts that legally define a gun—by treating them the same way as complete firearms under federal law.

The practical effect is that anyone buying gun-building kits or unfinished firearm parts would need to go through a licensed dealer, which means they'd have to pass a background check and the transaction would be recorded. Currently, people can legally buy these components separately online or at gun shows without any background check or registration because the parts themselves aren't technically classified as firearms. This bill closes that loophole by making it harder for people to build untraceable guns without any official record of the transaction.

The bill primarily affects gun manufacturers and sellers who currently sell these kits and parts, as well as individuals who want to build their own firearms. Law enforcement agencies support this type of legislation because untraceable guns complicate criminal investigations—when a gun is used in a crime, police can't trace it back to a buyer or owner. On the other hand, gun rights advocates argue the bill infringes on the ability of law-abiding citizens to build firearms for personal use, and they question whether it would actually prevent criminals from obtaining guns since determined individuals could still find ways around the restrictions.