Oakland, CA – Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan is urging Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley to join San Francisco’s District Attorney Boudin’s lawsuit against “Ghost Gun” manufacturers and retailers. In an open letter to O’Malley, the Vice Mayor expressed her concern regarding the rise in ghost guns and the harm they cause in the community:
“ I urge you to join cities such as our neighbors in San Francisco and the City of Los Angeles who have filed lawsuits against manufacturers of Ghost Guns. The entire system of gun safety laws and regulations are undermined by ghost gun manufacturing companies, who are profiting from the violence and harm in our community. Therefore, I implore that Alameda County join San Francisco’s lawsuit against ghost gun manufacturers and retailers.”
Ghost Guns are self-assembling firearms bought in kits or parts, which contain all the components and directions for finishing a working firearm. These guns can then be illegally sold and used in crimes. When these firearms are recovered at crime scenes, they cannot be traced due to the lack of a serial number. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), “ghost guns” account for 30% of guns recovered in California. Although these guns function and cause harm like traditional guns, their manufacturers and retailers are largely unregulated.
Full Letter: Link
Vice Mayor Kaplan has continually pushed for control and regulation of ghost guns and the prioritization of ending gun violence. On April 20 2021, she successfully passed a resolution asking the State Legislation to enact regulations against ghost guns. In December of 2020, Council unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Kaplan declaring Gun Violence the Top Law Enforcement Priority. On April 12, 2021, she successfully allocated funding to expand ShotSpotter to areas of East Oakland currently not covered, support Operation Ceasefire, and fund gun tracing to identify and shut down sources of illegal guns (4/12/21 – Budget spreadsheet).