A San Diego judge has issued an injunction to stop the sale of a controversial gun-making machine, ruling it was a rebranded version of a previously banned device used to create untraceable weapons.
At a Glance
- San Diego judge blocks sale of Coast Runner
- Device found to closely mimic banned Ghost Gunner
- Ruling upholds California’s CNC machine ban
- County scores third legal win against manufacturer
- Ghost gun recoveries spike nearly 500-fold since 2015
Court Halts Ghost Gun Maker’s Rebranded CNC Machine
A San Diego Superior Court judge has barred Defense Distributed, a Texas-based firearms tech company, from marketing or selling its “Coast Runner” CNC milling machine in California. The ruling came after the court determined that the machine was effectively a rebranded version of the previously banned Ghost Gunner, which enables users to manufacture unserialized firearms—commonly known as ghost guns, according to reporting by GazetteXtra.
While Defense Distributed claimed the device was meant for general fabrication, the judge found substantial overlap in its design and promotional content with the banned Ghost Gunner. That resemblance, according to the court, suggested a deliberate attempt to skirt California’s 2022 law banning such machines, as detailed by American Military News.
Watch American Military News’s report on the incident at San Diego Judge Blocks Texas Company from Selling Rebranded Ghost Gun Machine.
San Diego’s Third Courtroom Win Against Ghost Guns
The case represents the third major legal victory for San Diego County in its broader campaign to crack down on ghost gun tools and technologies. The lawsuit, filed with backing from the Giffords Law Center and law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, was part of an initiative launched in 2022 that authorizes civil litigation against manufacturers whose products contribute to gun violence.
The court also concluded that California’s ban on CNC machines tailored to firearm production does not violate the Second Amendment. In an analysis reported by MSN, the judge emphasized the state’s legitimate interest in regulating tools that allow consumers to produce untraceable weapons at home.
Rise in Ghost Guns Spurs Aggressive Regulation
According to American Military News, ghost gun recoveries in California surged from 26 in 2015 to nearly 13,000 in 2022. This dramatic increase has alarmed state lawmakers, leading to tighter legislation and a series of legal actions targeting companies that manufacture or distribute DIY gun kits.
Defense Distributed attempted to dismiss the lawsuit by seeking a venue change to Texas and invoking California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which is meant to protect against strategic lawsuits that chill public participation. Both motions were rejected, reinforcing the strength of California’s legal stance in regulating firearm-related technology.
As the legal battle continues, San Diego’s latest courtroom win sets a precedent that could influence how other states address emerging firearm technologies. The case underscores the legal and ethical tensions between innovation, personal liberties, and public safety in the age of self-assembled weapons.
