California DESTROYS Gun Manufacturer – Court Ruling

Daily Report April 15,2025

A San Diego Superior Court’s ruling has once again demonstrated California’s relentless stance on gun control, specifically targeting untraceable firearms as it blocks the sale of the “Coast Runner” machine from Texas-based Defense Distributed.

At a Glance

A San Diego Superior Court judge ruled against a Texas-based company, preventing sales of its milling machine in California.
The machine is designed to produce untraceable “ghost guns.”
The device was allegedly rebranded from “Ghost Gunner” to “Coast Runner.”
The decision marks the third major legal victory for San Diego County in the case.
The lawsuit claims ghost guns contribute to gun violence and lack traceability.

San Diego’s Legal Victory

San Diego’s legal system scored another victory with a court ruling against Defense Distributed, whose “Coast Runner” milling machine was found to violate California state law. The machine is reportedly used to create “ghost guns,” firearms that lack serial numbers and are thereby untraceable, stirring significant public safety concerns. San Diego County’s lawsuit, with backing from Giffords Law Center and Sullivan & Cromwell, argued that these unregulated tools pose a threat by facilitating an increase in untraceable firearms.

Watch coverage here.

The court order is a continuation of efforts by California to clamp down on ghost guns. The court denied Defense Distributed’s attempts to move the case to Texas using anti-SLAPP laws. The judge also noted that Coast Runner Industries may have been set up to circumvent state laws after Defense Distributed’s earlier federal lawsuit defeat, a suggestion San Diego used to press its case in this latest court bout.

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Implications for Gun Manufacturers

The ruling serves as a warning for gun manufacturers attempting to sidestep California’s stringent regulations. The device in question, previously known as the “Ghost Gunner,” was repackaged and renamed the “Coast Runner” but didn’t escape the scrutiny of the authorities. According to the judge, the device’s primary marketing objective is firearm manufacturing, thus violating California law, which bans CNC milling machines within the state. This action underscores the state’s firm stance on preventing and reducing gun violence and its unyielding pursuit of legal actions against entities risking public safety.

Marking the third major legal victory in this case for San Diego County, the ruling illustrates how courts are more willing to back initiatives aimed at curbing the influx of ghost guns. Alarming figures highlighted by the county reveal the soaring number of ghost guns recovered—26 in 2015 to an astonishing 12,894 in 2022.

Broader National Impacts

Beyond California, this court decision reverberates nationwide, highlighting the ongoing struggle between states and manufacturers over gun control measures. Despite claims by Defense Distributed that its machine serves broader purposes beyond gun production, the court was unconvinced, emphasizing that the devices facilitate firearm creation, infringing California laws. The judge assured that such statutes do not violate the Second Amendment, aligning with stricter regulations on firearms and their components.

As San Diego County’s pioneering civil litigation against ghost gun equipment makes headlines, it sets the stage for other jurisdictions pursuing similar lawsuits. This strengthened legal framework is expected to embolden further legal confrontations and prompt manufacturers to reconsider challenging the regulations implemented by states intent on enforcing stricter gun control policies.