California Governor Vetoes 'Ghost Gun' Bill

When Congress failed to pass a bill that would have further regulated the sale and manufacturing of guns, California State Senator Kevin de Leόn took matters into his own hands.

Ghost Gunner (Image source: YouTube)

Leόn introduced a bill in the state's legislature that would have banned the sale, manufacture, purchase, and trafficking of what he called "ghost guns" without preregistering with the U.S. Department of Justice through a serial number and background check.

"The threat of plastic and self-assembled firearms should not be underestimated. There is an emerging industry and market for untraceable and undetectable ghost guns," Leόn said.

The Los Angeles Democrat said he decided to take on the issue because no one knows these ghost guns exist: "There is no way to know if criminals or other dangerous individuals are circumventing firearm laws by making these guns," Leόn said.

The bill, Senate Bill 808, got all the way to California Gov. Jerry Brown's desk but the liberal Democrat governor vetoed it Tuesday.

"I appreciate the author's concern's about gun violence, but I can't see how adding a serial number to a homemade gun would significantly advance public safety, " Brown said.

It was a sigh of relief for gun rights supporters not only in California, but across the country.

"We’re getting better at throwing back the nightmare scenario," said Texas gun rights activist Cody Wilson, who oversees the nonprofit group Defense Distributed, Ars Technica reported. One day after Brown vetoed the legislation, Wilson announced he had discovered an even easier way to manufacture guns.

Wilson is now manufacturing and selling what he's calling the "Ghost Gunner." It's essentially a digital gun mill that uses three-dimensional printing when plugged into a computer. It creates the lower receiver of an AR-15 rifle. Federal law defines the "lower receiver" as the firearm itself to help the federal government enforce the Gun Control Act of 1968, which makes it illegal for anyone to manufacture and sell a firearm without first obtaining a license. When the Ghost Gunner and the lower receiver are attached to each other, they form a ready-to-use semi-automatic gun.

With Ghost Gunner, Wilson has found a way around the 1968 law. The mill isn't legally defined as a "firearm" under federal law so he doesn't need a license to make or sell it. For now, Wilson is allowing customers to preorder the "Ghost Gunner" for $1,200. He will charge $1,500 once preordering ends, according to his website.

Watch this video to see how "Ghost Gunner" works:

Editor's note: This post has been amended to include that it is illegal to manufacture and sell firearms without a license and to clarify that the Ghost Gunner creates the lower receiver of an AR-15 rather than attaches to the lower receiver. Thanks to TheBlaze reader @SamiSamms.

—

Follow Jon Street (@JonStreet) on Twitter