The District of Columbia mounted a formidable challenge against Polymer80, Inc., in a case that throws into sharp relief the complexities and dangers of “ghost guns.”
This term refers to firearms that are sold as unassembled kits, which are then completed by the buyer. These kits do not require serial numbers or registration, making the resulting guns difficult to trace.
Which is what the name Polymer80 references. Polymer built lower receivers on rifles that are 80% complete. All the buyer has to do after buying their Polymer80 is do the remaining 20% of the assembly, and they’ll have a fully functioning lower receiver. Then, the person simply buys a fully built upper-receiver from a different seller (which by law doesn’t need to be serialized), slams them together, and they’ve got a fully functioning rifle.
Back to the story….
This case, filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, revolves around Polymer80’s practice of selling such kits that can be readily converted into functioning firearms, despite lacking the necessary serial numbers and registration mandated by District law.
The legal contention hinges on Polymer80’s alleged violations of the Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA) by misleading consumers about the legality of their products in the District. The court documents indicate that Polymer80 advertised these gun kits as legal, despite their questionable status under local laws which have been tightened to include even unfinished frames or receivers in the definition of firearms. Such practices not only pose risks by potentially arming individuals who should not have guns due to background checks but also complicate the efforts of law enforcement to track and manage firearm-related crimes.
The District’s legal action seeks remedies that are as broad as the implications of the case itself. They have called for a permanent injunction to prevent Polymer80 from continuing to sell these kits in the area, alongside a staggering claim for civil penalties amounting to over four million dollars, reflecting the gravity with which Washington DC views this breach of law and public trust.
This case is particularly significant because it encapsulates the tension between innovative firearm manufacturing and public safety regulations. It underscores a growing concern that modern gun marketing and distribution practices, particularly through digital platforms, may outpace traditional regulatory frameworks designed to ensure public safety.
Furthermore, the issue of ghost guns impacts community health and safety profoundly. Untraceable firearms can increase gun violence, complicate criminal investigations, and lead to higher numbers of unregulated guns on the streets.
Economically, it stresses law enforcement resources and healthcare systems. Socially, it fosters an environment of insecurity and distrust among community members, particularly in urban settings where gun violence rates are often higher.
All this being said, my thoughts on this lawsuit are that it isn’t the greatest use of taxpayer monies.
Even if all of the ghost gun sellers get shut down, any dummy can simply buy a $200 Ender 3 3D printer from MicroCenter, and then sail the high seas or visit the Gatalog to download an STL and 3D print themselves a functioning firearm at home.
We can’t unmake soup.
3D printers are out there. Anyone can print a polymer firearm at home. Anyone can rifle a barrel by running an electrical current into their bathtub.
Pandora’s box has been opened.
Since anyone with basic CNC and 3d modeling experience can make their own DIY gun at home, it seems to me that the optimal way to curb gun violence would be by tackling the causes of violence: eliminating poverty, funding mental health treatment, and providing mutual aid that ensures society’s downtrodden have a way to retain their dignity.