The Association Between Ghost Gun Usage and Neighborhood Disadvantage

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between Privately Made Firearm (PMF) usage and multiple characteristics of neighborhood disadvantage in a large metropolitan city. PMFs, also known as ghost guns, are unserialized firearms typically ordered as parts and constructed by hand at home. Since they are unserialized, they are untraceable by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Thus, PMFs are frequently owned by individuals who are unable to purchase a firearm through legitimate means. Police data containing PMF recovery incidents, categorized as criminal or non-criminal incidents, from 2020 to 2023 were obtained and mapped onto census data to find the PMF rate per 1,000 people in each census tract. A linear regression analysis was conducted to determine neighborhood disadvantage from 2015 to 2019 was predictive of PMF use. Neighborhood disadvantage was measured through unemployment rate, poverty rate, and rate of residents over 25 without a high school diploma. Results show that higher neighborhood disadvantage is associated with a higher PMF rate per census tract for all PMF recovery incidents, criminal incidents alone, and non-criminal incidents. This research provides important contributions to firearm research and demonstrates that PMF use is associated with neighborhood disadvantage in the same way as violent crime.