Bill Aimed at Curtailing 'Ghost Guns' - Weapons Assembled in USVI Using Imported Parts to Make Them Untraceable - Wins Approval

The Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety on Wednesday forwarded a bill aimed at curtailing the rise of “ghost guns” in the USVI.

Ray A. Martinez, V.I. Police Department commissioner nominee, explained the term “ghost gun” in his opening testimony.

“Ghost guns are fully functional firearms that can be made at home using parts and kits that are available for purchase online," he said. "The key component of a firearm is the receiver, which holds the parts that enable it to actually shoot, such as the hammer, bolt, or breechblock, and firing mechanism. Ghost guns are made using receivers that are not technically finished and require a few additional steps at home, such as drilling a few holes before they can be used to make a functional gun."

He added, "Kits and online tutorials for making guns using unfinished receivers have mushroomed in recent years and do not require any technical expertise. These guns made at home using unfinished receivers have become known as “ghost guns” because they do not have a serial number or any other identifying information and are therefore untraceable when they are recovered after being used in a crime.”

Bill No 34-0072, an Act amending title 23 Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 5, providing for the declaration of firearm components upon their entry into the Virgin Islands, and other related purposes, was sponsored by Senator Dwayne DeGraff.

“Presently you can go online and decide how to get a firearm under the radar into the territory and people have legally purchased firearm parts in the United States and have mailed them home and assembled them here in the territory," Mr. DeGraff said. "It is not illegal.”

He mentioned a recent case in the territory where a federal indictment alleged that two individuals participated in an unlicensed firearm business. “The indictment alleges that the individuals ordered gun parts and accessories from various companies in North Carolina and Florida and had the items delivered to the respective Post Office box in the territory. The individuals purchased money orders totaling over $60,000 from the [United States Postal Service] to pay for the firearm parts. This is just to show that there is a trend,” he said.

Mr. DeGraff wrapped up his defense of the measure by stating, “We are trying to avoid having illegal firearms proliferating in the territory, and with the heightened gun violence that we are seeing, this is one of my quests trying to address some of the gun violence and get some illegal firearms off the street.”