Mayor Adams wants feds to yank license of Nevada-based ‘ghost gun’ parts seller Polymer80
Mayor Adams wants the federal government to yank the license of a Nevada-based gun-part seller he describes as “by far the largest source of ghost guns used in crimes.”
Gun parts from Polymer80 have been found in 90% of the ghost guns recovered by the NYPD — including the firearm used to kill 16-year-old Angellyh Yambo in the Bronx on April 8, Adams and NYPD officials said at a press conference Wednesday.
“They have repeatedly and willfully targeted communities with this form of retail supplying of ghost guns. They’re in Nevada. This is a Nevada production that ends up in our community,” Adams said.
“We must shut down the online realtors like Polymer80. If we don’t mobilize together, we’re not going to get the movement that we deserve in Washington, D.C.,” the mayor said.
He added, “The conversation we would love to have with Polymer80 is when I’m able to call them and say, ‘You are out of business.’”
Polymer80 representatives did not return messages seeking comment Wednesday.
In a letter sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives on Wednesday, Adams said Polymer80 “repeatedly violated federal gun laws,” and called on the federal agency to revoke the company’s license to make and sell guns and gun-building kits.
The letter refers extensively to a December 2020 federal raid at Polymer80′s headquarters in Dayton, Nev., and to statements made in the search warrant application.
The company sells a “Buy Build Shoot Kit” that it tells customers “contains all the necessary components” to build a complete gun — but the gun frames don’t have serial numbers, the warrant alleges.
“It appears that Polymer80 does not conduct investigation or required background checks on individuals purchasing firearms from the Polymer80 website, ships firearms to individuals outside of its home state of Nevada, does not provide notice to common carriers that firearms are being shipped through their facilities, and does not keep proper records required of (federal firearms licensees),” the search warrant alleges.
“It appears that Polymer80 shipped items to individuals determined to be felons and otherwise prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition, as well as individuals located in foreign countries,” the warrant continues.
Polymer80 has not publicly been charged with any federal crimes. “Polymer80, Inc. has always operated — and will continue to operate — lawfully, in compliance with local, state and federal laws,” the company says on its website.
Build-them-yourself “ghost gun” makers can use 3D printers to manufacture weapons’ plastic or polymer parts. It takes about 12 hours for a 3D printer to make a gun’s lower receiver, using blueprints that can be easily downloaded on the internet, though the metal upper receivers need to be purchased separately.
So far this year, the NYPD has seized 153 ghost guns in the first four months of the year — compared with 275 in all of 2021, and 150 in all of 2020, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.
NYPD officials couldn’t say Wednesday how many ghost guns have been used in shootings.
