Colorado Enacts Law Banning 3D-Printed Guns, Aiming to Curb Ghost Gun Proliferation
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed House Bill 1144 into law, making the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms, often referred to as 'ghost guns,' illegal in the state. The new legislation, effective July 1, classifies the act of 3D printing a gun or its components as a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 5 felony for subsequent offenses. This law exempts federally licensed firearm manufacturers and certified gunsmithing programs. The bill is part of a broader legislative effort by Colorado Democrats to address gun violence, following a significant increase in the use of ghost guns in crimes. A report by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives highlighted a rise in ghost guns recovered at crime scenes, from 1,629 in 2017 to 27,490 in 2023. The bill's sponsors, including Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, argue that these untraceable weapons pose a growing threat to public safety. 
