The Trump administration is currently reassessing anti-gun policies as a part of its broader agenda. Recently, a California court decided to stop a Texas-based company from selling machines used for gun manufacturing within the state. California’s legal battle with Defense Distributed and related entities concerns the sale of CNC milling machines, which are used to create “ghost guns”—untraceable and unserialized firearms that individuals can assemble at home.
Defense Distributed introduced two particular CNC machines, Ghost Gunner and Coast Runner, which became the focus of this case. On March 27, the Superior Court of California, San Diego, made a preliminary ruling in favor of California’s motion to halt these sales. The court’s injunction prevents the company from selling, offering, or marketing these machines in California while the lawsuit is ongoing.
Back in October 2022, Defense Distributed faced another setback when a federal court dismissed their challenge against California’s AB 1621 law. This legislation prohibits selling CNC machines primarily designed for firearm manufacturing. Around the same time, Defense Distributed rolled out the Coast Runner, which California argues is just a rebranded Ghost Gunner.
The state claims that the Coast Runner is essentially the Ghost Gunner with a different appearance. The company’s website even notifies California buyers that they would receive the Coast Runner instead of Ghost Gunner, which raised eyebrows. California labeled the Coast Runner as an illegal device facilitating firearm manufacturing, violating state gun laws.
Defense Distributed argued that the Coast Runner wasn’t solely for gun production. They mentioned that the U.S. Department of Commerce classifies it as a general-purpose machine. However, the court dismissed this claim, noting the Ghost Gunner also holds such classification yet is undeniably intended for making firearms.
The company further insisted that the Coast Runner differs from the Ghost Gunner and could serve other purposes. But California countered, proving that the device’s primary role is gun manufacturing. The court found that Defense Distributed likely tried to sidestep the law by rebranding the Ghost Gunner as the Coast Runner.
In the end, the court sided with California, granting a preliminary injunction. Meanwhile, the Epoch Times reached out to Defense Distributed for their comments on the matter. The ongoing legal proceedings underscore the tension between state regulations and gun rights advocates.
Amidst this, the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a Biden-era rule on ghost guns. The rule, initiated in April 2022, mandates home-assembled firearms to have serial numbers and requires background checks for gun assembly kit buyers. Although lower courts initially blocked this rule, the Supreme Court reinstated it in October 2023 and has now reaffirmed its validity.
This court action coincides with the Trump administration’s steps to bolster gun rights across the nation. On February 7, former President Trump signed an executive order to safeguard Second Amendment rights. The order instructed the attorney general to review Biden’s firearms policies and draft a plan to remove any infringements on gun rights.
Simultaneously, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has launched an investigation into the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The probe focuses on possible rights violations related to concealed-carry weapon permits. Some applicants claim their permits faced delays of up to 18 months.
The sheriff’s department attributed these delays to a “significant staffing crisis.” Nonetheless, the investigation is part of a broader review of restrictive gun laws in California and beyond. This reflects the ongoing national debate over balancing public safety and individual gun rights.
The unfolding situation illustrates the complex landscape surrounding firearm legislation in the United States. As legal battles continue, both sides remain steadfast in their convictions about gun rights and regulations. The resolution of these issues will undoubtedly shape the future of firearm policy in the country.
