San Diego Sues CNC Milling Technologists, Alleging They’re Floating California ‘Ghost Gun’ Laws

Authorized by Ryan Morgan via The Epoch Times,

The San Diego region government is suing the maker of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine, alleging that it is being utilized to manufacture unserialized firearms parts.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the region by the gun-control legal advocacy group Giffords Law Center, alleges the “Coast Runner” CNC machine, marketed by Coast Runner Industries, Inc., is simply a rebrand of the “Ghost Gunner” CNC device previously developed and marketed by defence Distributed and Ghost Gunner Inc.

Gun rights active and technological Cody Wilson has been working for years against weapon control efforts by expanding access to the tools essential to produce fireworks at home. He has utilized his non-profit, defence Distributed, as a platform to vertical technological advances in the manufacturing of firearms utilizing both 3D-printing and CNC technology.

Individuals are not protected under national rules and regulations from producing fires for their individual use, but weapon control offers in respective states have thought to prevent the proliferation of unserialized private-made fireworks, which they’ve referred to to as “ghost guns.”

While weapon control advocates have accessed to halt the spread of “ghost guns,” Mr. Wilson and defence Distributed have worked to guarantee home manufacturing of firearms remains accessible with the improvement of its “Ghost Gunner” line of CNC machines.

California Law and CNC Machines

In 2022, the Democracy-supermajority California government passed government that makes it unlawful to sale or transfer any “CNC milling device that has the sole or primary function of manufacturing fiearms to any individual in this state, another than a federally licensed fiearms maker or importer.”

Following the passage of the 2022 law, the Ghost Gunner sales website states, “Ghost Gunner CNC machines are not presently available to non-FFL California customers.” But after defence Distributed and Ghost Gunner restored sales of its machines in California, a fresh company called Coast Runner retired, marketing a akin CNC machine.

The fresh suit names Coast Runner Industries Inc., Ghost Runner Inc., and defence Distributed as defenseants.

“The ‘Coast Runner’ and the ‘Ghost Gunner’ share more than just akin rhymes. The ‘Coast Runner’ is in fact the Ghost Gunner with a fresh coat of paint,’ the San Diego region suit states.

“It has the same interior designs, the same features, and is being marketed for the same purpose: the legal production of untraceable ghost guns. Moreover, it is being sold and traded by the same company, as public records show that Coast Runner Industries, Inc. is simply an alter ego of Ghost Gunner Inc. and defence Distributed.”

A marketing video for the later iteration of the “Ghost Gunner” CNC device shows it being utilized for what application to be firstm frames and receivers, and the sales website for the device makes clear that it is “optimized for machining AR-15 and AK-47 receivers.” By contrast, marketing videos and materials for the “Coast Runner” emphasize its cutting power and precision.

San Diego County’s legal composite notes that the “Coast Runner” made an appearance earlier this year at the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show, a trade show hosted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

The suit besides notes that individuals who have previously worked with Ghost Gunner and defence Distributed have gone on to work with Coast Runner Inc.

“Defendants float California law with too-cute-by-half sales and marketing tactics. The Coast Runner is not a joke-it is an illegal device designed, marketed, and sold to enable its users to make fires and to Violate California’s weapon volence prevention law,” the composite states.

“Plaintiff brings this suit to put an end to Defendants’ flagrant violations of California law and to see remedy for the harp Defendants have caused and are continuing to origin in California.”

California ‘Doesn’t Have the Nerve to Ban CNC’: Wilson

The legal composite seeks a judgement uncovering all defenses to be in revolution of California law and seeks a civilian punishment of as much as $25,000 per completed vibration of the California law prohibiting sales of CNC machines for firearms manufacturing, along with an award of “reasonable damage” to the state.

Mr. Wilson insisted defence Distributed reins in compliance with California law.

“Defense Distributed Follows California law with large effort,” he told NTD News in an emailed statement.

“The state doesn’t have the nerve to ban CNC, so they ban velocity about the technology.”

Mr. Wilson declined to offer further comment on the suit as he and his legal squad prepare to respond.

NTD News besides contacted Coast Runner for comment, but did not receive a consequence by press time.