NEWS ALERT: Another security breach has shaken Capitol Hill as a man was caught attempting to smuggle in an untraceable “ghost gun.”
The suspect attempted to enter the Cannon House Office Building while lawmakers were in session.
35-year-old Jason White from Maryland faces felony charges after security scanners detected the weapon, which lacked serial numbers and could have bypassed gun control laws entirely.
Capitol security officers intercepted White at a checkpoint when metal detectors flagged a suspicious item in his bag.
Upon inspection, officers discovered a fully functional firearm with a barrel length under 12 inches.
Most alarmingly, the gun had no serial number that would allow authorities to trace its origin or ownership history.
White claimed he had forgotten the weapon was in his bag, an excuse that fell flat with Capitol Police.
Investigations revealed White lacks a license to carry in Washington, D.C., and even his Maryland firearms permit had expired. He was promptly arrested and now faces serious felony charges.
“There was no serial number present anywhere on the firearm,” stated the official affidavit filed in the case.
“Ghost guns” represent a growing concern for law enforcement nationwide. These weapons are typically sold in parts or kits and assembled by buyers without proper licensing or background checks.
The Biden-Harris administration implemented a rule in August 2022 requiring these kits to be serialized and sold through licensed dealers.
According to anti-gun organization Brady United, “Ghost Guns are unserialized (and therefore untraceable) firearms that are put together by components purchased either as a kit or as separate pieces.”
“These firearms are fully functioning guns that are as lethal as a fully finished, serialized firearm,” it adds.
The incident occurred “when the US House was in session and was staging a series of committee hearings,” according to reports.
The incident marks a potentially serious security breach at one of America’s most important government buildings.
White’s arrest comes amid mounting security concerns at Capitol Hill, with over 20 arrests for unlawful firearm possession already recorded this year, surpassing the 18 total arrests in all of 2023.
Democrats point to such incidents to justify increased security measures, including the metal detectors installed by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the January 6 incident.
However, many Republican representatives have criticized these measures as political theater.
GOP Representatives like Lauren Boebert have openly challenged what they view as infringements on constitutional rights and unnecessary security measures.
The affidavit detailed that the firearm possessed by White “had a barrel length of less than 12 inches and was fully functional.”
