Bills aimed at cracking down on 'Ghost Guns' head to Assembly

ALBANY, N.Y.(WHEC) —Two bills to crack down on "Ghost Guns "are heading to the New York State Assembly.

Both were passed by the Senate earlier this week.

One bill would define a "ghost gun" as a firearm that does not have a serial number or is not registered in accordance with state or federal law. The other would specifically ban the possession of "unfinished receivers,"  that's the metal piece which holds the critical mechanisms that allow guns to fire, and can be used to build an assault rifle.

Democratic Senators Anna Kaplan, and Brad Hoylman, both sponsors of the bills, said ghost guns pose a threat here in New York, and across the country. They pointed to a Pro Publica report that right-wing extremist groups involved in the capitol insurrection have embraced ghost guns as their preferred weapons.