Increase in concern over 'ghost guns' in Spain following recent incidents.

"Ghost guns," also known in specialized circles as ghost guns, have begun to paint a worrying picture in Spain, although their incidence is still far from reaching the alarming levels observed in the United States. This phenomenon has gained relevance in public and social debate, especially following the recent assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in which one of these guns manufactured with 3D printers was used. This case has prompted authorities to intensify their focus on the manufacturing and use of unregistered and hard-to-trace firearms. The accessibility and low cost of these weapons are two of the characteristics that most concern the State Security Forces and Corps. Mostly made from plastic materials and assembled from kits, ghost guns lack serial numbers, making them a true challenge for identification and tracking. According to Pedro Carmona, Secretary of Communication of the Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC), the combination of accessible technology and the proliferation of online tutorials has facilitated this issue, making the manufacturing of these weapons within the reach of anyone with basic knowledge. Since the first illegal workshop dismantled in Tenerife in 2021, authorities have intensified their efforts to combat this emerging phenomenon. The Civil Guard, in collaboration with Europol, has carried out several successful operations resulting in the seizure of a significant number of firearms and materials for their manufacture. However, despite these achievements, ghost guns still represent only a small fraction of the approximately 8,000 illegal firearms seized annually in Spain. The alert regarding these types of weapons is also linked to the ease of access to the information necessary for their manufacture. Weaponry experts have highlighted that, in less than an hour, a person with technological skills can find the blueprints and necessary parts to create a gun. This easy access occurs not only through buying and selling websites but also on social media, where control is minimal, creating fertile ground for the exchange of information and materials. The nature of ghost guns presents an imminent risk, despite the fact that these weapons are less accurate and more prone to malfunction compared to conventional firearms. However, experts agree that they are just as lethal at close range. The design characteristics of these weapons, which allow for quick assembly, further complicate the work of law enforcement, as their manufacturing can be as brief as their disposal. The profile of those who manufacture or possess these weapons varies considerably, from organized criminals seeking to avoid detection in their illicit activities to common offenders looking for more affordable access to weaponry. This access becomes even more attractive when considering that creating a homemade weapon is much cheaper than acquiring a registered firearm on the market. In the international context, the use of ghost guns has proliferated particularly among criminal gangs in Latin America and the United States, where their capacity for deterrence and inflicting harm is recognized. However, in Spain, this phenomenon is still considered a low-intensity threat, as authorities continue to identify that most illegal firearms in circulation originate from abroad. Despite the constant efforts of authorities to control the trafficking and manufacturing of illegal weapons, the combination of accessible technology, low cost, and a culture of legal disobedience poses a significant challenge. Increasingly, individuals are motivated to experiment with weapon manufacturing, whether for economic reasons or interest in technology, which could exacerbate the situation in the coming years. Although the concern over ghost guns in Spain is not currently at a critical level, constant vigilance from authorities and social awareness are essential to prevent this phenomenon from spreading. The key lies in collaboration among security forces, the community, and lawmakers to create a framework that not only curbs the proliferation of these weapons but also the crime associated with their use.