A collective of Colorado lawmakers desires to place an finish to “ghost guns” and their rising recognition. Earlier this week, the state’s Home Judiciary Committee voted in a 7-4 majority to go the invoice, HB26-1144, alongside for a choice with the total Home of Representatives. The proposed regulation would “prohibit the usage of a three-dimensional printer, or comparable expertise, to make a firearm or a firearm part.”
Ghost guns are usually comprised of 3D printers or comparable machines with out serial numbers, making them nearly unimaginable to hint and permitting customers to skirt the federal necessities for buying a firearm. Whereas the invoice targets utilizing a 3D printer to make weapons, large-capacity magazines and different associated elements, it even bans possessing and distributing the directions to fabricate weapons on this approach. Nevertheless, these guidelines can be exempt for federally licensed firearm producers.
“These ghost weapons are more and more discovered at crime scenes, making it more durable for regulation enforcement to trace down a suspect as a result of the gun isn’t traceable,” the invoice’s sponsor, Lindsay Gilchrist, stated in a press launch.
Previous to this proposal, Colorado passed a law in 2023 that banned proudly owning ghost weapons or making frames for them. Whereas SB23-279 laid the groundwork, HB26-1144 could be seen as the subsequent step because it’s rather more encompassing by concentrating on ghost weapons even earlier than they’re made. In accordance with the invoice, first-time violations can be handled as a misdemeanor, whereas repeat offenses can be upgraded to a felony cost. Trying forward, HB26-1144 nonetheless has to safe a vote from each the Colorado Senate and Home of Representatives earlier than being delivered to the governor to be signed into regulation.
