Maine passes bill requiring serial numbers on firearms in lifesaving victory

WASHINGTON — Today, Emma Brown, executive director of the national gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS, urged Maine Governor Janet Mills to sign an essential gun safety bill that would protect Maine from ghost guns and require all firearms in the state to be serialized. The legislation would be a critical step in addressing the growing danger of untraceable and undetectable ghost guns – an emerging public safety problem that allows people who wouldn’t pass a background check to obtain guns.

“It is common sense that all guns should have serial numbers so law enforcement can trace them, especially as we’ve seen the rate of ghost guns used in Maine crime more than triple since 2017,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director at GIFFORDS. “When guns used in crimes are untraceable, law enforcement is hampered in their ability to complete their investigations, and communities everywhere are less safe. GIFFORDS strongly urges Governor Mills to fight crime and protect Maine by signing this essential bill.”

Since 1968, federal law has required all firearms manufactured in or imported to the United States to have a serial number. However, advances in technology such as 3D printers and at-home self assembly kits have allowed some firearms to be assembled at home without serial numbers. This bill works to close this loophole and ensure that all guns are traceable.