US President Joe Biden is making it more difficult for citizens to purchase so-called ‘ghost guns’, expanding the definition of a firearm

A ghost gun refers to a firearm that arrives as a parcel in parts and is assembled by the owner without a trace.

The word ‘firearm’ under the US Gun Control Act has been altered to include “buy, build and shoot” kits, making the kits subject to the pre-existing federal gun laws.

Biden says the purpose of this rule change is to ensure those purchasing ghost guns must go through the same process if they were buying a commercially made firearm.

The rule will also cover weapon kits already in circulation, with the Department of Justice requiring federally licensed dealers to serialise guns on the shelf before selling them.

Biden says ghost guns must be treated as the deadly firearms they are.