CT’s attorney general makes announcement about enforcement action against ‘ghost gun’ dealers

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - Connecticut’s attorney general scheduled a news conference to announce enforcement action against “ghost gun dealers” over illegal sales in Connecticut.

Attorney General William Tong said he had a plan to fight out of state dealers.

Tong addressed the media at 11 a.m. on Tuesday in Hartford.

In Hartford, six ghost guns have been seized by police so far this year. The number keeps rising exponentially each year.

“This is an 80 percent lower receiver for an AR 15. The same weapon that killed 26 people in Newtown,” said Attorney General William Tong.

Ghost guns are unserialized, untraceable, unregistered fully functional firearms.

As more ghost guns are being used in crimes across the state Connecticut is taking action against ghost gun dealers.

“Selling these firearms, selling these parts is highly illegal under Connecticut law. Not only are they dangerous and highly illegal, they’re a menace,” Tong said.

Tong announced that Connecticut is suing four out of state companies for selling illegal ghost gun parts in the state.

Those companies are Indie Guns of Florida, Steel Fox Firearms of Florida, Hell Fire Armory of North Carolina, and AR Industries of Utah.

“These are parts that can be easily obtained online and purchased by people here in CT even though it is obviously illegal,” said Tong.

The gun parts are shipped without serial numbers to consumers, bypassing federally licensed firearms dealers and background checks.

“This is a dramatic problem growing across the country and right here in Connecticut,” said Jeremy Stein with Connecticut Against Gun Violence.

Throughout the state, police departments are seizing more ghost guns off streets.

In Hartford, 58 were seized in 2022, 29 in 2021, and seven in 2020.

“These ghost guns, we know they’re all over this country, all over this world. We know that. So whatever we can do to help support this effort and to make certain that we’re not victimized again and again,” said Deborah Davus with Mothers United Against Gun Violence.

The attorney general’s office said they’ll seek the maximum amount of fines and penalties against these companies.

Tong was joined at the news conference by Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull, representatives from Moms Demand Action, Mothers United Against Gun Violence, Newtown Action Alliance, and Connecticut Against Gun Violence.

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