Poster #247 - Unseen and Armed: The Rising Use of Ghost Guns Among Youth and Young Adults

• In Event: ASC Poster Session II

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of privately made firearms (PMFs), or "ghost guns," poses significant challenges for law enforcement and raises urgent criminological questions. These unserialized and often untraceable weapons are increasingly accessible, particularly among populations prohibited from purchasing traditional firearms. This study leverages six months of firearm seizure data from the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department—one of few jurisdictions with publicly accessible weapons data—to examine the prevalence of ghost gun recoveries. Out of 1,074 seized firearms analyzed, 15.2% were classified as PMFs. Youth and young adults are disproportionately represented: 25% of all firearms seized from individuals under 18 and 18–21 were PMFs, compared to 11.7% among adults over 30. Analyses reveal statistically significant associations between age and PMF possession, and between juvenile involvement and ghost gun seizures. These findings underscore ghost guns as a weapon of choice for underage and justice-involved youth and point to the limitations of current regulatory and investigative frameworks. This study contributes empirical insights to a growing but underdeveloped body of research and calls for enhanced cross-agency tracking, public data transparency, and youth-focused enforcement strategies. Findings have implications for both criminal justice policy and law enforcement practice in addressing an evolving firearm threat.

Authors

• Heleana Melendez, CNA Corporation

• Kenneth Novak, CNA Corporation

• Scott Decker, CNA Corporation