Teen used 'ghost gun' in California high school shooting

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The teenager who shot five classmates, killing two, at a Southern California high school used an unregistered “ghost gun,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Thursday.

Villanueva told media outlets Thursday that 16-year-old Nathaniel Tennosuke Berhow’s .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol was assembled from gun parts and did not have a serial number.

Berhow pulled the gun from his backpack on Nov. 14— his birthday — in an open-air quad at Saugus High School in the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Clarita and in 16 seconds shot five students at random. At one point, the gun jammed but he quickly cleared it and continued shooting.

Berhow counted his rounds, Villanueva has said, saving the last bullet for himself.

-snip-

By STEFANIE DAZIO
an hour ago


Read more: https://apnews.com/09928e8a064b4d1c9ea3d8fbaaf3dae8

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Also: Santa Clarita shooting: Weapon used in Saugus High attack a ‘ghost gun,’ sheriff says (Los Angeles Times)

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Ghost gun or not, it killed three people.

Too bad it wasn't an actual ghost.

[mainstreetonce]

2. Could he have bought that kind of gun

On the internet?

Any other ideas about how he got it?

[SonofDonald]

4. I used to hunt and shoot at rifle ranges

There is a monthly magazine called "Shotgun News", it's chock full of ads for gun parts, anything you can think of to do with guns?, it's in there for sale

You can buy all the parts for a weapon from individual dealers and build your own

You must have a federal firearms license but if your record is clean they aren't hard to get, every licensed gun seller has to have one

Pick up a copy at a bookseller and take a look, it'll really open your eyes as to what is available

[Sapient Donkey]

6. Not sure how he did it, but it is possible to buy components online

For an example there is stuff like this:

https://www.80percentarms.com/ar-15-build-kits/

These are kind of brightly painted with signs stating what they are, and in theory could probably be easily stopped on the public web. However, even if we banned these easy to spot/find sort of packages, they will still be out there sold as individual parts. Some of that can even be 3D printed or milled using relatively cheap equipment these days. I mean, what do you about this? https://www.80percentarms.com/products/0-billet-ar-15-lower-receiver/

This isn't me saying gun control is impossible and shouldn't be attempted, but rather adding that it's going to need to be something more than what is usually discussed. Also, any such controls should just be viewed as speed bumps that only slow the number of shootings.

Anyway, I'm not a gun person so maybe someone can give more insight on how those kits are used and how much effort is needed to assemble a functioning firearm from them.

[melm00se]

10. Kits are available via the internet

the ones I have seen run in the $500-600 range + the tools (which aren't overly demanding, you probably have some of them in your tool kit).

if you know people who shoot a lot, barrels, springs, guide rods, hammers and triggers are readily available as they are easy upgrades/replacements. Frames are a little harder to come by from a person as they almost never need replacement.

If you have basic machine tools and a little skill, you can build an entire gun from a steel block, a steel rod, wood block and a visit to home depot.

[IronLionZion]

3. Gun control needs to include parts

if people can build guns at home without a serial number or any requirement to register it. The article claims his house was full of such unregistered firearms.

This is concerning.

[getagrip_already]

7. it does....

specifically the firing mechanism has to have a serial number and it is treated as a gun all by itself.

If someone sold him one without checking for an fid, it was likely a hand to hand sale. Possibly a gun show or an internet sale by an individual who isn't required to check for fid's.

What does need to happen is the loopholes that allow hand to hand and sales over the web (essentially hand to hand) need to be closed.

[IronLionZion]

8. Private sales need some better regulations

like having them go through a licensed dealer for the registration and background checks

[friendly_iconoclast]

11. Ghost guns skip all that, and they're now far past the 'zip gun quality' stage

These are just from the past few months, in one state (Massachusetts)

The first account is from Springfield, and has a pic at the link of what looks to be a competently finished CZ75
knockoff:

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/Suspect-Shouts-Baby-Im-Going-to-Jail-During-Drug-Gun-Arrest-512532881.html

While searching the car, state police said they found small baggies consistent with how heroin is packaged and a large amount of cash. They also located a black semi-automatic handgun on the floor near the driver's seat. The gun had a high-capacity magazine loaded with 15 9mm rounds and had no markings or serial number, consistent with what is referred to as a "Ghost Gun." These firearms cannot be traced and are illegal.

https://www.enterprisenews.com/news/20191030/east-bridgewater-raid-result-of-ongoing-motorcycle-gang-feud

...Agents then executed a federal search warrant and found at least a dozen “large airsoft style weapons that had the appearance of real weapons” in his garage.

In a workshop area, agents found a hidden compartment with two milling plates, which serve “as a template to drill out a receiving for a firearm,” the affidavit states. They located a buffer spring, a firearm part used to assist with recoil of a rifle, and buffer tube, a piece of a rifle that the buffer spring fits inside, it states.

In a hidden compartment, agents say they found an AR-15 styled rifle “ghost gun,” one without any manufacturing or serial numbers to allow it to be traced.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

12. they have to do just that in ca

Generally, all firearms purchases and transfers, including private party transactions and sales at gun shows, must be made through a California licensed dealer under the Dealer’s Record of Sale (DROS) process. California law imposes a 10-day waiting period before a firearm can be released to a purchaser or transferee.

Pursuant to Penal Code section 27510, a California licensed dealer is prohibited from selling, supplying, delivering, transferring or giving possession or control of any firearm to any person under the age of 21 years, except as specifically exempted. The exemptions apply to the sale, supplying, delivery, transfer, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to a person 18 years of age or older.

found here:
https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs

[IronLionZion]

15. Sounds like some more people need to be arrested in this case

since laws were broken in supplying the guns to the shooter.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

16. Absolutely!

Otherwise the laws are meaningless.

[cannabis_flower]

18. But..

Another problem is that you can make the parts with a 3D printer. Probably other ways to make your own gun parts.

[ManiacJoe]

30. You can make some of the parts, not all of them.

[Javaman]

5. Vice did a video piece on ghost guns a few years back...

they were interviewing underground gun makers in the Philippines.

they were cranking out hands guns pretty quickly.

found it, here you go...

[samir.g]

9. possession of a ghost gun should be a major federal offense

20 to life

[OneCrazyDiamond]

13. We would need a federal registry first. n/t

[friendly_iconoclast]

24. In your opinion, how many people will be registering illegal guns?

[mr_lebowski]

26. I believe the idea is you'd need a registry to rule OUT that a gun is properly registered ...

And hence a 'ghost gun'.

I mean, that's the only way the post makes sense, so that's what I assume

[friendly_iconoclast]

27. I can't wait to hear the proposals for banning metalworking tools...

...since that's the way most ghost guns are made these days.

[mr_lebowski]

28. I was only explaining the meaning of the post as I saw it ;) nt

[OneCrazyDiamond]

33. Yep

Thanks

[OneCrazyDiamond]

34. Almost 0

But some criminals are dumb enough to self report, so not 0.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

35. Why?

An unserialized firearm is rather obvious. There's no serial number.
Current ATF regulations allow for individuals to manufacture firearms. These weapons aren't illegal. Transferring them is illegal.

[Codeine]

19. For owning an illegal item?

Lots of people get less than that for actually killing someone. A bit draconian, to say the least.

[friendly_iconoclast]

23. For gun control advocates, it's less about guns and more about control

[Devil Child]

32. correct n/t

[yaesu]

14. all handguns require a frame, those frames have a traceable serial number, unless there

are unregistered frames being sold breaking Federal and state laws I have no idea how these ghost guns can be assembled.

[NickB79]

17. For those unfamiliar with guns, this is known as an 80% receiver

The receiver (the component that holds the trigger mechanism and is typically serialized) is sold unfinished. The last few machining cuts are not done, so it can't fire as-is. Since it is unuseable as sold, it is not legally a firearm, so no background check is needed, facilitating legal online sales. The manufacturer and seller technically broke no laws, since what they sold wasn't legally a gun, just a gun-shaped hunk of metal.

When you buy such a receiver, you need to use a drill press and jig to cut the holes needed to install the trigger. Add the barrel, grips, sights and magazine, all legally purchased online. Then poof! Homemade, fully functional gun.

[Wrz]

20. Future 3D printers

I wonder if/when there are consumer level affordable 3D printers that can somehow create things using metals strong enough to handle firing projectiles how that will be dealt with. Firmware lockouts could be defeated even by people supplying modified firmware files. And it's pretty much impossible to stop dissemination of 3D printer templates. That's gonna be an issue one day I'm guessing. I mean, they can make plastic ones now but as I understand it they tend to only last for one decent shot and then they break apart.

It's just going to be one of those things where the law has trouble keeping up with advances in technology.

[friendly_iconoclast]

25. 3D printers are not necessary- most seized guns are made with hand and power tools

[Initech]

21. In murder a gun used is a gun used.

It doesn't matter what type it is, though knowing how the killer got a hold of the weapon certainly helps.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. kick

[The Mouth]

29. Here's a good documentary about them

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hqt0o

Worth watching for background.

[ansible]

31. Wonder how he got the ammo

Ammo requires a background check here now