Resolution urges County to embrace all tools available to stop proliferation, sale and manufacture of ghost guns

The Prince George’s County Council has unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the outlaw of unregistered, unregulated firearms, also known as ghost guns. The resolution, sponsored by Council Members Krystal Oriadha and Calvin Hawkins, supports “full use of all legislatively available authority” to control the proliferation of ghost guns by requiring all firearm businesses to provide traceable serial numbers on the frame of the gun.

This resolution is in response to the 26,000 ghost guns confiscated by the Justice Department in 2022, including 324 in Prince George’s County, in addition to the alarming rate of violent crime involving ghost guns in our region, particularly juvenile crime.

“When we think of ways to mitigate crime and keep our youth safe, we have to consider the sale of these illegal guns,” said Council Member Oriadha. “Too many lives have been lost and cases gone cold because there’s no way to trace these weapons. We must take every action possible to get ghost guns off the streets.’’

“While we were encouraged by news that Polymar80, the country’s biggest manufacturer of ghost gun parts, agreed to stop selling products in Maryland, we must continue our commitment to work together to stop the spread of these dangerous, unregistered and untraceable weapons,” said Council Member Hawkins. “We must ensure the statewide ghost gun ban is being followed."

Council Members are working on additional legislation to address this issue and combat gun violence.

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