AUGUSTA - Rep. Sam Zager, D-Portland, introduced a bill, LD 1454, to address the rise of do-it-yourself, untraceable firearms, also known as "ghost guns," before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Monday.
Ghost guns are unserialized, untraceable weapons that can be assembled by individuals who are not registered firearm manufacturers. Created with kits or 3D printers, these weapons can sometimes go undetected by metal detectors, creating challenges for law enforcement and security officers. LD 1454, An Act To Prohibit Untraceable and Undetectable Firearms, upholds Mainers' rights to purchase and own firearms while preventing the widespread proliferation of these homemade, untraceable firearms.
"Ghost guns are secretive, stealthy and a fast-moving problem," said Zager. "Given the threat to public safety these firearms pose, this bill would prohibit the manufacture, distribution and possession of ghost guns, while providing clear provisions for law-abiding gun owners and hobbyists to enjoy their rights without endangering the rights of others. I am glad to live in a state that has so many safe gun owners."
The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a work session on LD 1454 on Friday, May 7 at 1:00 p.m.
Zager, a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, served in the military for over a decade, with training in a variety of weapons, before returning to school and becoming a family physician. He is serving his first term in the Maine House of Representatives and represents House district 41, part of Portland.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Zager], c. 812-1111