(C) Colorado Newsline
This story was originally published by Colorado Newsline and is unaltered.
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Colorado bill would outlaw making, possessing ‘ghost guns’ [1]
['Sara Wilson', 'More From Author', '- April']
Date: 2023-04
Manufacturing and possessing ghost guns — unserialized firearms, which are linked to recent shootings in the state — could soon be illegal in Colorado.
A bill expected to be introduced at the Capitol Wednesday by Democratic Sens. Rhonda Fields of Aurora and Chris Hansen of Denver is part of a slate of legislation introduced this year aimed at reducing gun violence in the state. Democratic Reps. Andrew Boesenecker of Fort Collins and Junie Joseph of Boulder are listed as the House sponsors.
“We’re going to be interrupting access to guns,” Fields told reporters Wednesday. “When you create (ghost guns), you’re doing it without any of the federal or state requirements to own it. So it’s a very popular weapon for criminals to use.”
Ghost guns are untraceable firearms often purchased as a kit online and assembled at home. Some ghost guns are made using 3D printing methods, especially as access to that technology increases.
They lack the engraved serial number that legally-manufactured guns are required to have, so there is no way to trace the ghost gun back to its owner. Additionally, people who assemble ghost guns avoid the required background check for firearm purchases in Colorado.
The number of ghost guns recovered by the federal government doubled from 2020 to 2021, according to a February report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Ghost guns were associated with two recent high profile shootings in Colorado: The alleged shooter in the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs last year had an interest in making ghost guns with 3D printing, and the alleged shooter who injured two East High School administrators had ghost guns and allegedly used one in his own death.
Under the bill, people found to have made or possess a ghost gun would face a class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense and a class 5 felony for subsequent offenses.
People who already have ghost guns would have until next year to get their firearm serialized by a federally licensed gun dealer.
The bill fits into Democrats’ larger strategy related to firearms this session. Bills to increase the minimum age for purchasing a gun, establish a three-day waiting period, expand the state’s Extreme Risk Protection Order — also known as a “red flag” — law, and make it easier to sue the gun industry have passed both chambers of the Legislature already.
“I think this fits in the overall package nicely, because we’re trying to limit access to folks,” Hansen said. “We all know that no single law or no single approach is going to end gun violence.”
Democrats hold a large majority in both the House and Senate this session.
Eleven states regulate ghost guns in some way.
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