While President Joe Biden has just recently addressed the issue of ghost guns – untraceable, often homemade firearms – Oakland's law enforcement has been dealing with this problem for some time now.
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New federal legislation has made it now illegal for businesses to produce personally manufactured firearms, commonly known as ghost guns, which don't have a serial number.
The new law also makes it illegal for gun dealers to sell those gun kits without a background check.
Oakland's rising tide of violence has been attributed in part to the influx of ghost guns, and Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong has voiced support for the federal government's action.
"In a two-year period we recovered close to 2,400 firearms," he said. "So it says there is a huge problem for the ability of those involved in violence to purchase or secure a firearm."
He hopes the new legislation will help to get these weapons off the streets.
Meanwhile, Oakland has been mired in violence in the last week, suffering four gun deaths in as many days, including the killing of a 15-year-old girl.
Last Thursday, a security guard at a temporary housing site for those experiencing homelessness was fatally shot. The site is run by Operation Dignity, a local veterans organization, that has expressed "deep sorrow for the tragic and senseless killing."
Grief counselors are now helping residents and staff.
So far, no arrests have been made in any of the recent deadly shootings.
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