Baltimore's trial against Hanover weapons dealer over 'ghost gun' kits starts

Dan Belson, The Baltimore Sun on Aug 18, 2025

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BALTIMORE — Over a year after Baltimore won a $1.2 million settlement with a “ghost gun” manufacturer, the city’s litigation over untraceable weapons is continuing Monday with a trial against a Hanover-based firearm shop.

Jury selection was set to begin Monday morning in the trial against Hanover Armory, a shop in Anne Arundel County accused of selling untraceable firearms kits without ID or background checks. The kits are used to build firearms referred to as ghost guns, which have no serial numbers and are increasingly used in Baltimore crimes.

In the Baltimore City Circuit Court trial against Hanover Armory, city lawyers are aiming to convince a jury that the shop added to the local crisis of violence fueled by untraceable firearms.

The gun shop’s attorneys did not immediately return a request for comment Monday. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement that the weapons dealer “knowingly put dangerous, untraceable weapons on our streets.”

“We won’t stand for that,” he said.

The city sued the gun shop alongside ghost gun manufacturer Polymer80, which settled early last year. The company shut down months later, pointing to frequent lawsuits, though its website seemed to be active Monday.

Baltimore’s settlement with Polymer80 also required the manufacturer to cooperate in litigation against Hanover Armory, noting the company would be obligated to produce documents and appear for depositions.

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