A collective of Colorado lawmakers needs to place an finish to "ghost weapons" and their rising recognition. Earlier this week, the state's Home Judiciary Committee voted in a 7-4 majority to move the invoice, HB26-1144, alongside for a call with the complete Home of Representatives. The proposed legislation would "prohibit using a three-dimensional printer, or related expertise, to make a firearm or a firearm part."
Ghost weapons are usually constituted of 3D printers or related machines with out serial numbers, making them nearly not possible to hint and permitting customers to skirt the federal necessities for buying a firearm. Whereas the invoice targets utilizing a 3D printer to make weapons, large-capacity magazines and different associated parts, it even bans possessing and distributing the directions to fabricate weapons on this method. Nonetheless, these guidelines could be exempt for federally licensed firearm producers.
"These ghost weapons are more and more discovered at crime scenes, making it more durable for legislation enforcement to trace down a suspect as a result of the gun isn’t traceable," the invoice's sponsor, Lindsay Gilchrist, mentioned in a press launch.
Previous to this proposal, Colorado handed a legislation in 2023 that banned proudly owning ghost weapons or making frames for them. Whereas SB23-279 laid the groundwork, HB26-1144 could be seen as the subsequent step because it's far more encompassing by concentrating on ghost weapons even earlier than they're made. In accordance with the invoice, first-time violations shall be handled as a misdemeanor, whereas repeat offenses shall be upgraded to a felony cost. Trying forward, HB26-1144 nonetheless has to safe a vote from each the Colorado Senate and Home of Representatives earlier than being delivered to the governor to be signed into legislation.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/colorado-is-working-on-a-bill-that-would-make-it-illegal-to-3d-print-firearms-and-gun-parts-211508169.html?src=rss