A group of legislators in Colorado seeks to curb the growing trend of untraceable 'ghost guns.' This week, the House Judiciary Committee approved HB26-1144 by a 7-4 margin, sending it to the entire House for further consideration. The legislation aims to forbid the employment of 3D printing devices or comparable methods for producing weapons or their parts.
Such ghost guns, often fabricated via 3D printers or analogous equipment, lack identification numbers, rendering them nearly impossible to follow and enabling evasion of national firearm acquisition rules. Beyond prohibiting 3D-printed firearms, high-capacity clips, and associated elements, the measure also outlaws the holding or sharing of blueprints for creating them through these means. Federally authorized gun producers would remain unaffected by these restrictions.
"These untraceable firearms are turning up more frequently at crime sites, complicating investigations for authorities since they cannot be linked back to owners," stated Lindsay Gilchrist, the primary proponent of the bill, in an official statement.
In 2023, Colorado enacted SB23-279, which prohibited possession of ghost guns and the production of their frames. HB26-1144 builds on that foundation with broader scope, addressing potential ghost guns at the manufacturing stage. Under the proposal, initial infractions would qualify as misdemeanors, escalating to felonies for subsequent violations.
The bill's path continues with required approvals from the Colorado Senate and House before reaching the governor for final approval.