California is taking a bold stand against the growing threat of ghost guns, those untraceable firearms that can be secretly manufactured using 3D printing technology. In a groundbreaking move, state Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu have filed a joint lawsuit targeting websites that provide digital blueprints for creating these dangerous weapons.

The lawsuit takes aim at Gatalog Foundation and CTRL Pew, two Florida-based online platforms accused of distributing computer codes that enable anyone to 3D print ghost guns. According to Chiu, Gatalog has been distributing over 150 designs for “dangerous and untraceable weapons” that can be quickly and cheaply produced, potentially putting firearms in the hands of teenagers and other unauthorized individuals.

The statistics are alarming. In 2020, ghost guns comprised a staggering 44% of guns recovered in San Francisco homicides. The city ranks third in ghost gun-related crime incidents, trailing only Los Angeles and San Diego. This surge has prompted California to take aggressive legal action to combat what they see as a serious public safety threat.

State law now explicitly prohibits distributing computer code for printing ghost guns, and a new regulation that took effect on January 1st makes it illegal to promote or facilitate illegal firearm manufacturing. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent Gatalog and CTRL Pew from continuing to distribute these potentially dangerous digital blueprints.

The GIFFORDS Law Center, a prominent gun violence prevention organization, has joined the legal action. Their chief counsel, Adam Skaggs, emphasized that while progress has been made in regulating ghost guns, “reckless and irresponsible actors” continue to find ways to circumvent existing laws.

As technology evolves, so do the challenges in regulating potentially dangerous digital content. This lawsuit represents a critical moment in the ongoing battle to balance technological innovation with public safety, sending a clear message that California will not tolerate unregulated weapons production.