ATLANTA — Federal agents say they are seeing an increase in so-called ghost guns across the country after a Decatur man was sentenced to life in prison for committing murder with one of the homemade firearms.

Brian Graves, assistant special agent in charge of ATF Atlanta, says privately-made firearms (PMFs) are not illegal on their face.

“The concern that the ATF has is prohibited people or criminals obtaining firearms illegally and using those in violent acts amongst the citizens of Atlanta, metro Atlanta, the United States, period,” says Graves. “A firearm is a Second Amendment right that citizens can obtain and have whether it be privately-made or it be commercial.”

Graves says the ATF has seen an uptick in ghost guns as do-it-yourself kits have become more available and the use of 3D printing has expanded.

“In the last seven years, they have become a little bit more common. They’re being used by sometimes enthusiasts, hobbyists; they want to make their own. And in some instances, there are some of those guns that are being obtained because some criminals do not want that firearm linked back to them,” Graves said.

ATF received reports of about 45,000 ghost guns between 2016 and 2021, followed by more than 25,000 reported in 2022 alone.

“You can only imagine from that time period those numbers are going to increase, just because of the availability of those kits and the explosion of the usage of 3D printing,” Graves said.

Graves says in helping train state and local law enforcement agencies on the growing prevalence of ghost guns, part of it is hammering home how it’s not an “out there” concept any longer.

“We would bring in a 3D printer and just show like in 30 minutes I can make you a frame. It’s kind of that easy,” Graves said.

Federal agents teach that privately-made firearms can also be printed in multiple, bright colors, causing them to look innocuous at first glance.

“Some privately-made firearms don’t look like firearms, they look like toys,” Graves said.

Graves says about 700 ghost guns reported during one seven-year period were connected to attempted or actual homicides.

The Atlanta Field Office ASAC tells WSB it’s important for ATF to educate law enforcement on the ways ghost guns are configured and can look in the real world--and let the public know, too.

“When you’re in law enforcement, it is a no-fail mission, so you can’t make those mistakes,” says ASAC Graves. “If you do make that mistake, it could be the difference between you going home or somebody else not going home.”

WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Veronica Waters contributed to this story.