Commonwealth Policy Center

A Kentucky teen tragically took his own life with a ghost gun—these are guns sold online in parts that are shipped through the mail, and can be assembled at home. This is one way to avoid background checks and age verification. You need to be 21 to purchase a handgun. Now, the deceased boy’s mother is suing the online seller, arguing these “make your own” weapons enable easy access to minors without safeguards to make sure they’re of legal age to purchase a gun. The case is tragic, and will likely receive continued attention, perhaps in the upcoming General Assembly session. While Americans widely favor Second Amendment protections most agree that restricting minors from the sale of handguns is good public policy.