A San Diego judge has blocked a Texas company from selling a machine designed to create untraceable “ghost guns” in California, ruling that the company likely rebranded its product to circumvent state laws.

At a Glance

• San Diego Superior Court judge ruled against a Texas-based company, preventing it from selling a specific milling machine in California
• The lawsuit claims the company rebranded its “Ghost Gunner” machine as “Coast Runner” to evade California’s ghost gun laws
• Judge found that Coast Runner Industries was likely created to circumvent state law after Defense Distributed lost a federal lawsuit
• Ghost guns recovered in California increased from 26 in 2015 to 12,894 in 2022
• The ruling marks the third significant legal victory for San Diego County in this case

Court Blocks “Rebranded” Ghost Gun Machine

A San Diego Superior Court judge has issued a ruling against a Texas-based company, blocking it from selling and marketing a computerized milling machine designed to create untraceable firearms in California. The lawsuit, filed by San Diego County, alleges that Defense Distributed attempted to circumvent California’s strict gun laws by rebranding its “Ghost Gunner” machine as “Coast Runner” after the original product was banned in the state. The judge’s decision represents the third significant legal victory for San Diego County in this ongoing case.

The county’s lawsuit claims these machines contribute substantially to gun violence by enabling users to create unserialized and untraceable firearms, commonly known as “ghost guns.” According to court documents, the judge determined that Coast Runner Industries was likely created specifically to evade California law after Defense Distributed lost a previous federal lawsuit. The ruling highlighted how the Coast Runner is marketed in a manner nearly identical to the Ghost Gunner, with both clearly intended for manufacturing firearms.

Alarming Increase in Ghost Gun Recoveries

San Diego County officials presented evidence showing a dramatic increase in ghost guns recovered throughout California, rising from just 26 in 2015 to an alarming 12,894 in 2022. This steep increase underscores the growing concern among law enforcement agencies about these untraceable firearms. The lawsuit represents the first civil litigation of its kind initiated by San Diego County since 2022, when the Board of Supervisors made the decision to pursue legal action against gunmakers.

The county’s legal effort is being supported by the Giffords Law Center and Sullivan & Cromwell, with the latter representing the county on a pro bono basis. Defense Distributed attempted to relocate the case to Texas and have it dismissed under anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) laws, but both motions were denied by the court. These failed maneuvers further strengthened the county’s position that the company was deliberately attempting to circumvent California’s regulations.

Second Amendment Considerations

In a significant aspect of the ruling, the judge determined that California’s statutes prohibiting CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling machines designed for creating unserialized firearms do not violate the Second Amendment. This legal determination addresses a common argument made by ghost gun advocates that such restrictions infringe upon constitutionally protected rights. The ruling establishes that California’s interest in regulating these devices falls within acceptable limitations on Second Amendment rights.

The defendants in the case have argued that the Coast Runner is simply a standard milling machine with multiple legitimate uses beyond firearm production. However, the judge found evidence suggesting the primary purpose and marketing of the device centered on creating unserialized firearms. This case represents part of a broader effort in California to address the proliferation of ghost guns, which lack serial numbers and are difficult for law enforcement to trace when used in crimes.