San Francisco committee backs ban on unserialized "ghost gun" kits, forwards ordinance to full Board
July 22, 2021 | San Francisco County, California
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The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on July 22 recommended a local ban on unserialized "ghost gun" kits to the full San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Vice Chair Stephanie, who sponsored the ordinance, said the measure targets a proliferation of privately manufactured firearms and the kits used to make them, which she said sidestep background checks, waiting periods and sales records. "It means there's no background check, no waiting period, no sales record, and no age restrictions at the time of sale," she said, arguing those gaps let prohibited people obtain weapons.
San Francisco Police Department commanders briefed the committee on local trends. Commander Carl Fabry described CJIC (Crime Gun Investigation Center) enforcement activity and said the department has seized more guns year-to-date than last year; Sergeant Patrick Fay showed slide evidence and explained how unfinished frames and jigs in kits can be completed at home and lack manufacturer identification, complicating tracing and investigations.
Advocates and witnesses supported the ordinance. Ruth Borenstein, policy lead for Brady United California, urged local action while state and federal rules remain incomplete. Stephen Lindley, formerly with the California DOJ Bureau of Firearms, demonstrated components in a kit and said an assembled ghost gun can be produced in 20–25 minutes with basic tools. Survivor Mia Treda recounted being shot with a 45-caliber ghost gun in the Saugus High School attack and asked supervisors to classify ghost-gun precursor parts as firearms requiring serialization and background checks.
Public callers representing Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action urged adoption, citing rising seizures and local violence.
On a motion by Vice Chair Stephanie, the committee voted unanimously (Stephanie, Haney, Marr) to recommend the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation. The ordinance will be scheduled for the Board of Supervisors agenda unless otherwise stated.
Next steps: the ordinance will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for further consideration and possible adoption.
Vice Chair Stephanie, who sponsored the ordinance, said the measure targets a proliferation of privately manufactured firearms and the kits used to make them, which she said sidestep background checks, waiting periods and sales records. "It means there's no background check, no waiting period, no sales record, and no age restrictions at the time of sale," she said, arguing those gaps let prohibited people obtain weapons.
San Francisco Police Department commanders briefed the committee on local trends. Commander Carl Fabry described CJIC (Crime Gun Investigation Center) enforcement activity and said the department has seized more guns year-to-date than last year; Sergeant Patrick Fay showed slide evidence and explained how unfinished frames and jigs in kits can be completed at home and lack manufacturer identification, complicating tracing and investigations.
Advocates and witnesses supported the ordinance. Ruth Borenstein, policy lead for Brady United California, urged local action while state and federal rules remain incomplete. Stephen Lindley, formerly with the California DOJ Bureau of Firearms, demonstrated components in a kit and said an assembled ghost gun can be produced in 20–25 minutes with basic tools. Survivor Mia Treda recounted being shot with a 45-caliber ghost gun in the Saugus High School attack and asked supervisors to classify ghost-gun precursor parts as firearms requiring serialization and background checks.
Public callers representing Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action urged adoption, citing rising seizures and local violence.
On a motion by Vice Chair Stephanie, the committee voted unanimously (Stephanie, Haney, Marr) to recommend the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation. The ordinance will be scheduled for the Board of Supervisors agenda unless otherwise stated.
Next steps: the ordinance will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for further consideration and possible adoption.
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