Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has successfully shut down a third dealer of ghost guns, with Utah-based AR Industries agreeing to cease operations in the state. The company will also relinquish its internet domain and delete its social media accounts. If any of its associates make a sale in Connecticut, they will face a $205,000 fine.
Ghost guns are illegal firearms that are untraceable by law enforcement. They can be purchased online, and their components can be fabricated using 3D printers.
“Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children in America, and unfortunately, Connecticut knows this all too well,” Tong stated. “Our goal is to prevent firearms from getting into the hands of individuals who shouldn’t have them, and ghost guns undermine that effort.”
Last year, Tong filed lawsuits against four out-of-state dealers. Earlier this year, Steel Fox Firearms from Florida was shut down through a settlement, and Hell Fire Armory from North Carolina was also closed down this month. A settlement is still pending with Indie Guns, another Florida-based dealer.
In 2019, Connecticut enacted a ban on the sale of unfinished frames and lower receiver parts that lack serial numbers or identification, as these components are used to assemble ghost guns.