Raleigh Police Crack Down on Ghost Guns as NC Lawmakers Push for Reform

Despite federal regulations, the rise of untraceable firearms remains a challenge for law enforcement in the state's capital.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Raleigh Police Department is grappling with the growing issue of ghost guns, which lack serial numbers and are difficult to trace back to their original buyers. In the past year, the department has confiscated 38 ghost guns out of a total of 1,424 firearms seized. While new federal regulations require serial numbers and background checks for gun-making kits, North Carolina lawmakers have struggled to pass state-level reforms to address the problem.

Why it matters

The rise of ghost guns poses a significant threat to public safety, as these untraceable firearms can be easily obtained by individuals who may be prohibited from purchasing guns through legal channels. The issue is particularly concerning in Raleigh, which is located along the I-95 corridor and has seen ghost guns linked to violent crimes and domestic violence incidents.

The details

Raleigh police say ghost guns, which can be assembled from kits or even 3D-printed, lack the serial numbers that allow law enforcement to trace them back to their original buyers. This makes them more attractive to criminals, who see them as a way to obtain a weapon that is difficult to link to a specific person. However, police have found that even ghost guns can be tied to other crimes through ballistic evidence, as the unique imprint left on shell casings can connect a firearm to multiple shooting incidents.

  • In the last year, 1,424 guns were confiscated by the Raleigh Police Department.
  • Of those weapons, 38 were considered ghost guns.
  • In March 2025, Raleigh police arrested a man with a 9-millimeter ghost gun that was linked to three different shootings in 2024.
  • Earlier this month, RPD was investigating a Raleigh man for allegedly selling marijuana and found he was in possession of two ghost guns.
  • In 2024, 471 guns were stolen from vehicles in Raleigh, a slight improvement from 2025 when 432 guns were stolen.

The players

Raleigh Police Department

The law enforcement agency responsible for policing the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, which has been at the forefront of combating the rise of ghost guns in the state.

Rep. Phil Rubin

A Democratic state lawmaker from Wake County who has been pushing for legislative reforms to address the ghost gun issue in North Carolina, arguing that serialized firearms provide more tools for law enforcement to investigate and prosecute gun crimes.

Lt. David Davis

A Raleigh police officer who has spoken about the challenges of tracing ghost guns and the importance of proper gun storage to prevent firearms from being stolen and used in criminal activities.

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What they’re saying

“It's a weapon that you can build by using either a kit or even a 3D-printed machine. It's not going to have any identifiers on it like a serial number and that makes it a little bit more difficult for law enforcement to trace.”

— Lt. David Davis, Raleigh Police Department (WRAL)

“The ATF regulations cover these gun kits a little bit more, but states like California and Maryland have done increased measures on top of that and have seen the number of ghost guns confiscated drop by like a quarter.”

— Rep. Phil Rubin, North Carolina State Representative (WRAL)

“That's just proof right there that, even though you have a ghost gun, trust me, you can't just go and use it to commit a criminal offense. We're going to be able to connect the dots and you're going to be charged accordingly.”

— Lt. David Davis, Raleigh Police Department (WRAL)

What’s next

Raleigh police and state lawmakers continue to push for additional measures to address the ghost gun issue, including increased regulations and enforcement efforts to prevent these untraceable firearms from being used in criminal activities.

The takeaway

The rise of ghost guns in Raleigh highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating the proliferation of untraceable firearms, even in the face of new federal regulations. While police have found ways to link some ghost guns to specific crimes through ballistic evidence, state-level reforms remain a crucial step in addressing this public safety concern.