Bolstering Security Against Ghost Guns Act
This bill, the Bolstering Security Against Ghost Guns Act, would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to create a comprehensive, DHS-wide effort aimed at preventing and responding to threats involving ghost guns (privately made firearms). It requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a department-wide strategy within one year that focuses on cross-component coordination and collaboration with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners. The measure also mandates several cross-agency studies and reporting activities—ranging from cross-border threat assessments and public guidance from the Secret Service to annual reporting by TSA on firearm incidents at screening checkpoints and ICE/I&A threat analyses—designed to improve prevention, preparedness, and response to ghost gun threats. Definitions are provided to align key terms (including “ghost gun” and “partially complete frame or receiver”) with existing regulatory language. In short, the bill formalizes a structured DHS approach to ghost guns, emphasizes information sharing and cross-border threat analysis, and requires ongoing reporting and public guidance to better prevent and respond to ghost gun-related terrorism or targeted violence.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a new DHS policy (Sec. 890E) requiring a department-wide strategy to bolster security against ghost guns within one year, with a focus on cross-component information sharing and collaboration and partnerships with federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial entities.
- 2Cross-border threat assessment (Sec. 890E(b)) to be developed within 180 days, detailing threats posed by United States–sourced ghost guns and partially complete frames/receivers, with particular attention to transnational criminal organizations and border security.
- 3United States Secret Service activities (Sec. 890E(c)) mandate the National Threat Assessment Center to research and publish public guidance on preventing, preparing for, and responding to ghost gun–related homeland security threats, in coordination with other federal partners.
- 4Transportation Security Administration reporting (Sec. 890E(d)) requires annual, and initial within one year, reporting on violations of firearm carriage prohibitions at passenger screening checkpoints, including incidents involving ghost guns, specifics about expedited screening, repeat offenses, and trends, plus the agency’s public-awareness efforts regarding the prohibition.
- 5ICE and Intelligence & Analysis roles (Secs. 890E(e) and 890E(f)) require ICE to analyze cross-border threats involving US-sourced ghost guns recovered in Mexico, develop information-sharing mechanisms, and create performance measures; and require the Intelligence and Analysis office to produce annual threat assessments on ghost guns linked to foreign or domestic terrorism, with dissemination to law enforcement and Congress.