4 'Ghost Gun' Dealers Sued For Illegal Sales In Connecticut: AG

CONNECTICUT — State Attorney General William Tong has sued four out-of-state firearm dealers selling and advertising illegal, untraceable “ghost gun” parts in Connecticut.

Connecticut banned the sale and receipt of unfinished frame and lower receiver gun components lacking serial numbers or unique identification, which are used to build ghost guns, in 2019.

The defendants Indie Guns of Florida, Steel Fox Firearms of Florida, Hell Fire Armory of North Carolina, and AR Industries of Utah each sold and shipped illegal ghost guns to an undercover investigator from Tong's Office, according to the complaint.

The four firearm dealers each advertise and sell a variety of firearms and components, including ghost gun components that allow consumers to easily assemble handguns, fully functional AR-15 style automatic rifles, and other untraceable illegal guns, according to a news release from Tong's Office.

"These components are shipped without serial numbers direct to consumers, bypassing federal licensed firearms dealers and background checks. The defendants ship illegal ghost gun parts directly to consumers without confirming whether the consumers are licensed to possess a firearm," the statement reads.

While websites for AR Industries and Steel Fox stated that they would not ship "AR-15 80% Lower Receiver" ghost gun kits to Connecticut, both companies shipped illegal ghost guns to a Connecticut address anyway. Indie Guns and Hell Fire had no warning, notice, or disclaimer, according to the release.

By selling products prohibited under Connecticut law, the lawsuit accuses each company of unfair and deceptive advertising, marketing and sales in violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.

"The Department of Consumer Protection’s mission is to protect public health and safety. It is hard to imagine a more direct threat to public safety than shipping illegal ghost guns into the State," said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull.