Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) on Friday signed legislation banning the manufacture and sale of “ghost guns” — privately manufactured or assembled firearms. The new law, signed by the governor creates a process for anyone who owns a “phantom gun” to legally register it. Furthermore, Gov. Polis signed another bill making it easier to file Colorado lawsuits against gun dealers. The liability will prevent most dealers to register ‘ghost guns.’
The Colorado law bans the transport and possession of frames and receivers that do not have serial numbers. The law requires those who currently have ghost guns to get them serialized at a licensed dealership by 2024, though the dealer will be required to run a background check before giving the firearm back.
Colorado also passed a law to enable lawsuits against gun dealers for any illegal activity committed by any individual with any firearms AFTER being registered, produced, sold, and transferred by the dealers.
It is extremely unlikely that any Federal-Firearm-License holders with Special Occupational Taxpayers / 07 licenses will register a ghost gun in their bound book due to the liability.
“I am proud of the achievements reached this year to improve gun safety and reduce crime, but the work is not done,” Polis said in a statement. “I am proud of the achievements that have been made this year to improve gun safety and reduce crime, but there is work to be done,” he added. “In order to make Colorado one of the top ten safest states, we must continue to come together to build on these public safety accomplishments.”
The fact is, there is no correlation between banning so-called ghost guns and improved public safety. In fact, there is no correlation between gun control and better public safety.
FACTS DO NOT LIE: Here are the top 10 safest States in the US per FBI vs. Gun Ownership Rate
1. Maine, 46.80% Gun ownership;
2. New Hampshire, 41.10%
3. New Jersey, 14.70%
4. Vermont, 50.50%
5. Idaho, 60.10%
6. Rhode Island 14.80%
7. Massachusetts, 14.70%
8. Virginia, 58.50%
9. Connecticut 23.60%
10. Wyoming, 66.20%
Colorado’s own gun ownership rate is at 45.10% and has been ranked #15 or lower in overall public safety in the past few years. To summarize, the top 6 of the safest states in the US are ranked in the top half of gun ownership rate.
People have been known to engage in violent behavior throughout history. There is no single explanation for why we are prone to this.
“A gun is a tool, no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or. as bad as the man using it.”
Polis signed several other gun control measures in April, including a three-day waiting period to get a gun, raising the minimum age to buy guns to 21, reducing the number of gun manufacturers suing and expanding the state flag law. With the new law, Colorado joins 11 states that have banned non-traceable firearms. None of the 11 states have shown improved public safety.
THREE THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT CO NEW GUN LAW…
The barrage of new gun laws in CO will have a much deeper effect on Law Abiding Gun Owners than expected.
SB23-168 is pinning liability on the firearm manufacturers and retailers for criminals’ actions. Furthermore, SB12-19 requires a 3-day waiting period for firearm transfers. Finally, Bill 279 bans all of the so-called ‘ghost guns.’
So, what are the bottom lines?
- Gun buyers will start seeing much higher transfer fees, reflecting costlier liability coverage.
- Some retailers are adjusting their policies to stop accommodating private transfers altogether.
- Most FFL/SOT holders will not serialize and register “ghost guns” due to the same liability reasons. All prior homemade firearms in Colorado are effectively 100% banned.