A ghost gun is a privately assembled firearm made from unfinished or separately purchased components that do not carry a serial number. Because these firearms are not sold as completed weapons through licensed dealers, they may bypass traditional background check requirements and can be difficult to trace.

In Chula Vista, the recovery of ghost guns presents unique public safety and investigative challenges due to the lack of identifying markings. The Chula Vista Police Department tracks these recoveries to support investigations, address illegal firearm possession, and promote community safety.

The dashboard below provides data on ghost gun recoveries in Chula Vista, offering transparency into local trends over time.