With the implications of increases in violent crime and so-called “ghost guns” contributing to that issue, a federal judge ruled on March 9th that 10 companies are now restricted from certain aspects of gun sales.

New York Attorney General Letitia James wants ghost gun sales eradicated

The preliminary order was issued by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan, and specifies that the companies cannot sell gun parts without serial numbers to New York citizens. Guns without a serial number are often referred to as ghost guns, according to Reuters.

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed the suit against the named defendants. The gun parts the companies sell are generally sold as kits and the lack of serial numbers makes them virtually untraceable by law enforcement agencies when investigating crimes.

Not only does the order block the companies from selling the parts to New York citizens, but it also prevents them from shipping the parts, including frames and receivers, according to Insurance Journal.

The defendants involved in the current ban are Brownells Inc., Blackhawk Manufacturing Group (80 Percent Arms), Salvo Technologies Inc. (80 P Builder or 80P Freedom Co.), G.S. Performance LLC (Glockstore), Indie Guns LLC, Primary Arms LLC, Arm or Ally LLC, Rainier Arms LLC, KM Tactical LLC, and Rock Slide USA LLC

The bigger picture James wants to address

Gun parts being sold and shipped into New York without background checks were the subject of a previous lawsuit filed by James in June of 2022.

"While families mourned loved ones lost to senseless gun violence, gun sellers avoided accountability for the illegal and dangerous weapons they sold," James said in a statement.

"There should be no more immunity for gun distributors bringing harm and havoc to New York. Today’s lawsuit holds 10 gun sellers accountable for fueling the gun violence crisis and endangering New Yorkers. Illegal guns do not belong on our streets or in our communities and we will use every tool necessary to root them out," she added.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams filed a se lawsuit against five of the companies on March 9th.

The gun distributors involved include Arm or Ally, 80P Builder, Rock Slide USA, Rainier Arms, and Indie Guns, in federal court.

"We are not going to let gun companies turn New York City into a city of mail-order murder," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.

"Whether they are hidden in the trunks of cars or packed in a plain brown box, ghost guns are illegal in our city, and we will take every lawful action possible to stop gun retailers from profiting at the expense of the safety of our city," he insisted.

"That’s why, this morning, the City of New York filed its own lawsuit against five online gun retailers that are illegally selling and delivering ghost gun components to addresses here in this city. We will not stand by while illegal operators flout the law, endanger our communities, and kill our young people," he added.

Crime shifting to some more affluent areas

The National Rifle Association cited research suggesting that crime is becoming more common in neighborhoods that were formerly considered safe neighborhoods.

Criminologist Dr. John Lott of the Crime Prevention Research Center explored how crime shifted to various locations of affluence in California during 2019 to 2022.

"Proposition 47 decriminalized a number of theft and drug charges, making them misdemeanors, as it did several 'non-violent' felonies. Voters also approved Proposition 57, which allows for early release of non-violent offenders," he told Real Clear Investigations.