LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Federal agents are intensifying efforts to crack down on machine gun conversion devices and privately made firearms flooding Las Vegas streets, citing a dramatic surge in seizures and growing concerns about public safety.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is targeting two primary threats: ghost guns — privately made firearms without serial numbers — and machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches,” that can convert standard handguns into fully automatic weapons.
Ghost guns and the ease of assembly
Ghost guns are easily downloadable through the internet, according to an ATF firearms specialist. “So a person who is not authorized to own a firearm can print these off and assemble the components,” the specialist said.
The weapons can lack serial numbers and can be purchased and shipped without background checks or identification requirements. “At the time when these were being manufactured — anyone can buy them without having an approved driver’s license or ID. They could be sold online or through the mail and sent directly to your home,” the specialist said…