Dexter Taylor

Taylor, prior to his conviction, worked in the tech industry as a software engineer and was interested in building firearms from home as a hobby. Prior to his conviction, he had no criminal record or violent history. Taylor claimed he believed he was engaging in constitutionally protected activity under the Second Amendment. == Arrest and trial ==

In 2022, New York authorities raided Taylor's Bushwick apartment and discovered more than a dozen unlicensed firearms, including AR-15-style rifles, semiautomatic pistols, large amounts of ammunition, and equipment for manufacturing guns. Taylor was indicted on multiple weapons charges. In 2024, he was convicted on two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, five counts of criminal possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of pistol ammunition, and violating the prohibition on unfinished frames or receivers. == Reactions ==

Taylor was sentenced to ten years in prison. The severity of the punishment sparked debate across media and legal circles. Advocates for stricter gun control, however, pointed to the risks posed by unlicensed weapons that are untraceable. Media coverage, including from WNYC, framed Taylor's prosecution as emblematic of the broader conflict between state efforts to curb ghost guns and concerns about civil liberties. == References ==