Felons are arming themselves with untraceable 'ghost guns' in NC and across the country

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Convicted criminals already banned from owning guns are now relying on homemade weapons to commit new violent crimes.

Since 2022, federal data have identified nearly 3,000 "ghost guns" linked to crimes in North Carolina, with hundreds of those cases in Charlotte. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson said, in 2024 alone, more than 50 privately made firearms were recovered and traced to violent crimes, including homicide, assault, robbery, and domestic violence.

Ferguson said the perpetrators are disproportionately convicted felons.

"It's terrifying," Ferguson said. "In our experience, the worst of the worst are using ghost guns. They're the most violent criminals. They're the ones trying to get around the law. They can use ghost g