USA Today recently published an article addressing the topic of “ghost guns,” linking them to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The piece suggests that homemade firearms should face stricter regulations, a stance critiqued by Dean Weingarten in his analysis.
Weingarten notes that while Thompson was indeed killed with a homemade gun, this did not hinder the investigation into his murder. The suspect was apprehended without needing gun-tracing data, which Weingarten claims is generally ineffective in solving violent crimes. He states, “Gun tracing has no measurable effect on solving violent crimes.”
The USA Today article reportedly argues that detectives have historically solved crimes using gun traces through ballistics and serial numbers. However, Weingarten challenges this assertion by pointing out the lack of documented cases where trace data directly solved homicides. He argues that if such examples existed, they would be prominently highlighted by authorities like the ATF.
Citing Canada’s experience with handgun registration since 1934, Weingarten emphasizes its ineffectiveness in crime resolution. He references a statement from publicsafety.gc.ca: “Department of Justice officials admitted that they could not identify a single instance where handgun registration helped solve a crime.”
Weingarten criticizes the USA Today article for employing scare tactics by highlighting the rising number of homemade guns found by law enforcement. He argues that this number is insignificant given the vast number of unregistered firearms in private hands across the U.S.
The article concludes with insights from a gun control advocate at the Giffords Law Center who acknowledges that additional laws won’t prevent individuals from crafting their own firearms: “The genie is out of the bottle,” he said.
Weingarten contends that promoting government control over firearms often targets law-abiding citizens rather than criminals or rogue agents. He reflects on historical precedents where exaggerated threats led to restrictive legislation, such as bans on switchblade knives and short-barreled rifles.
Ultimately, Weingarten asserts that laws restricting firearm possession do not effectively reduce homicides or suicides and argues for recognizing Americans’ rights to make their own guns as an inherent freedom.
Republished with permission from AmmoLand.
