ATF Reports Surge in Privately Made Firearms Seized in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas Federal officials say Texas law enforcement agencies are seizing a record number of privately made firearms, commonly referred to as ghost guns, as part of a broader surge in untraceable weapons nationwide. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), seizures in Texas have increased by more than 40% compared to the same period last year. Ghost guns are firearms assembled from kits or 3D-printed components and lack serial numbers, making them difficult to trace in criminal investigations. The ATF attributes the rise in recoveries to both increased criminal use and improved detection efforts by local and federal task forces. Agents say these weapons are appearing in cases ranging from street-level drug trafficking to violent gang activity. In several Texas cities, including Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, police have linked ghost guns to homicides, armed robberies, and assaults. The ATF is working with state agencies to expand outreach to licensed dealers and community leaders about the dangers of unmarked firearms. Officials emphasize that federal law now requires certain parts kits to be serialized, but illicit production remains a persistent problem.