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Ghost Gun Liability: New Rights for Victims

New rules allow individuals injured or families of those killed by "ghost guns" (firearms without serial numbers) to sue component makers or facilitators of their sale. This aims to provide a path for seeking damages where traditional legal avenues might be difficult. The bill includes exceptions for self-defense or actions by law enforcement officers.
Key points
Victims or their families can sue makers of ghost gun components or those who facilitated their sale for injury or death.
The bill defines a "ghost gun" as a firearm lacking a unique serial number or a combination of parts intended to be assembled into one.
Damages, including consequential damages, can be sought in court.
Exceptions apply if the injury or death resulted from self-defense or actions by a law enforcement officer for public safety.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_HR_3993
Sponsor: Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Process start date: 2023-06-09
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

To provide a private right of action against the maker of any component of a ghost gun, and any person who facilitated a sale of the ghost gun, for injury or death resulting from the use of the ghost gun.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_HR_3993.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-06-09.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Victims or their families can sue makers of ghost gun components or those who facilitated their sale for injury or death.
  • The bill defines a "ghost gun" as a firearm lacking a unique serial number or a combination of parts intended to be assembled into one.
  • Damages, including consequential damages, can be sought in court.
  • Exceptions apply if the injury or death resulted from self-defense or actions by a law enforcement officer for public safety.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-25.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law Security