Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man who shot his 6-year-old nephew in the back used an untraceable “ghost gun,” which is assembled on the black market without serial numbers or other identifying information, District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said.

Now, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing banning the parts used to assemble such illegal weapons.

“I am pleased that the Governor is being proactive to stop these untraceable components from becoming dangerous instruments of death and destruction and I completely support his proposal," Fitzpatrick said in a news release.

Here’s how ghost guns are obtained: buyers purchase nearly assembled guns over the internet, then buy the remaining parts separately and finish the weapon. Because the components of a gun are not illegal on their own, shipment is considered legal, Fitzpatrick has said.

DA William Fitzpatrick displays a so-called "ghost gun" during a news conference on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019.

““Our community has seen a significant increase in the possession and use of ‘ghost guns,’ with over 2 dozen confiscated or secured by our local police agencies and the state police in the last year,” Fitzpatrick said. “In fact, on December 3rd of last year, 6 year-old Miguel Everson was shot in the back by his uncle, Miguel Russo, with a ‘ghost gun.’"

Russo was shot and killed by police after confronting them with the ghost gun.

Without serial numbers or other identifying information, the DA has said he has no idea where the uncle’s gun came from or its history.

A handgun purchased legally will contain a serial number, as well as unique identifying marks on each bullet it fires.

Fitzpatrick has repeatedly decried the presence of ghost guns, saying that banning them was not a restriction of the Second Amendment.

Under law, possessing a loaded handgun without a permit can result in a mandatory prison sentence and a punishment up to 15 years.

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