By Manny Otiko
California Black Media
The following are some of the ways to get in touch with each other New Report California Department of Justice released a statement warning of the danger of Ghost Guns (weapons that are assembled at home and have no serial numbers). These weapons are not traceable, so they’re a favorite of criminals looking to stay under the radar.
Ghost guns have gained popularity in recent years as 3-D printers can be used to create gun parts.
According to a report by the California Department of Justice, between 2020-21 the use of Ghost guns will jump from 13,000 incidents to 23,000. The use of ghost weapons has recently dropped to 21,000 incidents per annum.
Assemblymember Mike Gipson, D-Carson, has been vocally opposing ghost guns since 2016, pointing out the numerous threats they pose. Gipson believes that most Americans are not aware of the dangers ghost guns pose. This year he published a book. Assembly Bill 1089This bans the possession, sale, and purchase of ghost gun technology.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee has been reviewing the bill.
“Irresponsible companies have continued to sell machines that are explicitly designed as ghost gun manufacturing machines while deceptively claiming that these machines do not have the ‘primary’ purpose of manufacturing firearms,” according to a factsheet from Gipson’s office.
California law prohibits the manufacture or assembly of firearms that do not have a valid serial number from either state or federal.
“These companies fail to inform buyers that it is now unlawful in California to use these machines to produce firearms without a firearm manufacturer’s license.
Additionally, while California law currently prohibits unlicensed manufacturers from using a 3-D printer to produce firearms, state law does not regulate the sale of 3-D printers that are designed or marketed as ghost gun manufacturing 3-D printers,” according to Gipson’s office’s factsheet.
Gipson represents 65th Assembly District, which includes cities like Compton, Long Beach, and Willowbrook. Gun violence has plagued his district, originating from both registered and non-registered guns.
In many cases, people who can’t get legal guns, because they don’t want to go through background checks, turn to ghost guns. They are also often used to carry out nefarious acts. Gipson says that black and brown people are the most common victims.
“This is a health issue,” he said.
Ghost guns were used in several mass shootings that occurred in California. David Mora, father of three, was banned from possessing guns in 2022 because of his criminal records. He went on to shoot his three kids and a worker in Sacramento County. The gun was made with a 3-D printing machine.
Gipson states that the statistics indicate that between Friday and Sunday is one of the worst times to be shooting.
He also stated that legislation on ghost guns was needed because technology is moving faster than the law.
“Technology has advanced faster than policies and bills,” he said.
Gipson isn’t the only legislator who has taken action on ghost guns.
Senate Bill 1327Bob Hertzberg is the author of this bill, which was approved by Governor Gavin Newsom. Gavin Newsom, allows Californians to sue people who manufacture, transport and distribute ghost guns for up to $10,000.
“Our message to the criminals spreading illegal weapons in California is simple: you have no safe harbor here in the Golden State,” Newsom said in a speech at Santa Monica College, the site of a 2014 mass shooting that killed six people.
“As the U.S. Supreme Court expands the right to own guns, California continues to add new ways to restrict them. California will use every tool at its disposal to save lives, especially in the face of an increasingly extreme Supreme Court,” said Newsom in a press statement.
