Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison Testifies on Growing Threat of "Ghost Guns" Before Senate Judiciary Subcommittee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Yesterday, Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Michael Harrison testified at a hearing chaired by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee titled “Stop Gun Violence: Ghost Guns.” Harrison noted the 300 percent increase in the number of “ghost” guns seized in Baltimore last year, and highlighted how many of these guns were linked to homicides and owned by individuals who are not legally allowed to purchase a firearm.

In his remarks, Harrison observed how “ghost” guns are becoming the weapon of choice for many. “For criminals and those involved in illicit activity, a ‘ghost’ gun is attractive because it is difficult, if not impossible to trace when used in a crime. A ‘ghost’ gun is anonymous. Because ‘ghost’ gun parts are not currently regulated as guns, individuals are not required to undergo a background check when purchasing them. That means people who are prohibited from purchasing a weapon – a convicted felon or a convicted abuser for example – can become armed by assembling a ‘ghost’ gun. And then a ‘ghost’ gun is deadly. Just like any firearm made by a licensed manufacturer, ‘ghost’ guns are fully functional and just as lethal.”

Harrison also predicted the problem would continue to get worse and put the lives of law enforcement officials at risk. “This growing problem is not unique to Baltimore. Cities from New York to Los Angeles are experiencing a similar explosion of ‘ghost’ guns, and due to the lack of regulation, they have quickly become the weapon of choice for traffickers and criminals and unless action is taken, I only expect the problem to get worse.” 

“If criminals are turning to ‘ghost’ guns, what does that mean for law enforcement officers in Baltimore and other communities? Simply put, ‘ghost’ guns add a new level of danger to our work. When we can’t trace recovered crime guns, there is no way to identify trafficking patterns. It makes our job much more difficult and puts lives at risk.”

The full text of Harrison’s opening remarks is copied below.

Chairman Blumenthal, Ranking Member, distinguished members of the Judiciary Committee, thank you for holding this important hearing on “ghost” guns. I’m honored to appear before you today and I’m joined by Lieutenant Colonel John Herzog who is my Deputy Chief of Investigations in the Baltimore Police Department.

As the Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department, I lead one of the nation’s largest police forces with nearly 3,000 sworn officers and civilian personnel. I became the Commissioner of the BPD in 2019 after almost three decades in New Orleans, in that police department, which I had an honor of leading as its superintendent for four and a half years.

When I accepted the job in Baltimore, I knew the challenges facing the city were many, especially when it comes to reducing the unacceptable rates of gun violence.

For far too long, Baltimore’s residents have borne the devastating impact of this violence. However, the data shows that the vast majority of guns used in these violent crimes are illegally trafficked. In fact, last year alone, more than 82 percent of the guns recovered in Baltimore came from outside the city, and nearly 65 percent of those guns were purchased outside of the state of Maryland.

In Baltimore, we are working every day to break the cycle of gun violence with evidence-based solutions and community policing initiatives. But we face a new threat to public safety from unserialized firearms known as “ghost” guns.

In February of 2021, members from our Southwestern District Action Team were patrolling an area notorious for gun violence and drug activity. At the very sight of a police vehicle, a male suspect began fleeing on foot while holding his front waistband, heightening concerns that he was armed. As he ran away, the individual was seen discarding vials of suspected cocaine. Now police apprehended the suspect and recovered a 9mm Polymer80 handgun with no serial number which was loaded with 26 rounds of ammunition. The suspect was only 17-years-old. Too young to purchase or possess a firearm in Maryland and because the gun was unserialized it was a dead end for law enforcement when it came to tracing it.

Last year Baltimore had a 300 percent increase in the number of “ghost” guns that had been seized in our city. Of those seizures, Baltimore Police linked 15 of those guns to a shooting or a homicide.

The Southwestern District which experiences the most gun crimes and the homicides in the city also had the highest number of “ghost” guns seized, and most disturbingly nearly one-fourth of all of the ghost guns recovered by the Baltimore Police were from individuals who were not old enough to obtain a firearm, including an individual who was only 14-years-old.

Unfortunately, this trend has continued into the current calendar year with no signs of letting up. So far in 2020 we have recovered 83 privately-made firearms which means we are far outpacing last year. At this rate, we are on pace to seize upwards of 300 “ghost” guns and this will be in the range of 10 to 15 percent of all guns recovered this year in the city.

As alarming as these statistics are, this growing problem is not unique to Baltimore. Cities from New York to Los Angeles are experiencing a similar explosion of “ghost” guns, and due to the lack of regulation, they have quickly become the weapon of choice for traffickers and criminals and unless action is taken, I only expect the problem to get worse and let me explain why. 

A “ghost” gun is easy to obtain. Gun traffickers no longer need to work with unscrupulous dealers or gun shows. A criminal can go online and purchase the parts to create a fully functioning firearm with only a few clicks of a mouse.

Then a “ghost” gun is untraceable. For criminals and those involved in illicit activity, a “ghost” gun is attractive because it is difficult, if not impossible, to trace when used in a crime.

A “ghost” gun is anonymous. Because the “ghost” gun parts are not currently regulated as guns, individuals are not required to undergo a background check when purchasing them. That means people who are prohibited from purchasing a weapon – a convicted felon or a convicted abuser for example – can become armed by assembling a “ghost” gun.

And then a “ghost” gun is deadly. Just like any firearm made by a licensed manufacturer, “ghost” guns are fully functional and just as lethal.

If criminals are turning to “ghost” guns, what does that mean for law enforcement officers in Baltimore and other communities? Simply put, “ghost” guns add a new level of danger to our work, and when criminal elements can evade a background check with a “ghost” gun, law enforcement loses the ability to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals. When we can’t trace recovered crime guns, there is no way to identify trafficking patterns. It makes our job much more difficult and puts lives at risk.

Last week, the Department of Justice issued a new proposed regulation that would bring “ghost” guns in line with our federal firearms laws. This action is critical and needed. Most importantly, it will save lives.

As we applaud the Biden Administration for taking action, I hope that Congress won’t lose sight of the need to help Baltimore and other cities that are struggling with daily gun violence. Passing gun safety legislation must be a priority to protect the public and provide federal support so communities can interrupt violence before it becomes deadly.

I very much appreciate the opportunity to testify in this important hearing and look forward to your questions. Thank you.

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