Sen. Chaudhuri files bill in North Carolina Senate to ban ghost guns and undetectable firearms

A new bill filed by State Sen. Jay J. Chaudhuri seeks to ban the manufacture, sale, transfer, use, or possession of ghost guns and undetectable firearms in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 409 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Ban Ghost Guns & Undetectable Firearms.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, transfer, use, or possession of ghost guns and undetectable firearms in North Carolina, effective Dec. 1, 2025. A “ghost gun” is defined as a firearm lacking a federally required unique serial number, except when the gun is permanently inoperable or not required to have such a number under the federal Gun Control Act of 1968. An “undetectable firearm” is defined as one that cannot be detected by standard security screening devices at airports or public buildings, including firearms made entirely of plastic, fiberglass, or 3D printing processes. Federally licensed firearm manufacturers are exempt from this prohibition. Violations of this law are punishable as a Class I felony.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Val Applewhite proposed the most bills (14) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Chaudhuri graduated from Davidson College in 1991 with a BA and again in 1999 from North Carolina Central University with a JD.

Chaudhuri, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 15th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Terry Van Duyn.