Trial begins for Maryland gun shop accused of selling "ghost gun" kits
A lawsuit against a Maryland gun shop accused of illegally selling untraceable "ghost gun" kits went to trial Monday. Baltimore City accused Hanover Armory of negligence, created a public nuisance, and violating the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.
The city filed the suit against Hanover Armory LLC, in 2022.
The lawsuit also named Polymer80, a leading manufacturer of unserialized ghost guns. In February 2024, Baltimore reached a $1.2 million settlement with Polymer80.
The city alleges that Hanover Armory sold Polymer80's ghost gun kits, which are sets of parts used to assemble a firearm, without determining whether customers were prohibited from owning a gun.
WJZ has reached out to Hanover Armory for comment.
"Dealers like Hanover Armory have knowingly put dangerous, untraceable weapons on our streets. We won't stand for that," Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement. "As was the case when we successfully went after manufacturers like Polymer80, we're committed to getting justice for our residents and all those impacted by Hanover's actions."
The trial is expected to last two weeks, according to Brady United, a gun violence prevention group whose legal team is representing the city.
City and state officials have long identified ghost guns as a contributor to gun violence in Maryland.
Ghost guns in Maryland
Maryland's state ban on ghost guns took effect in 2022. The law makes it a misdemeanor to buy or sell unfinished gun frames and receivers. Violators face up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
In 2023, Baltimore police confiscated more than 460 ghost guns. By mid-2025, the city reported seizing more than 150.
City officials say ghost guns are assembled at home and end up on the streets, often being used in violent crimes.
In 2021, former Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said 23% of ghost guns were found on people younger than 21, with the youngest being 14.