Four gun companies are under fire in Connecticut for allegedly mailing “illegal firearm parts” without serial numbers to an undercover state investigator. In the state’s latest move to crack down on “untraceable ghost guns,” Attorney General William Tong announced the civil lawsuit on Tuesday.
The attorney general presented the unfinished (80%) AR lower receivers that the companies were accused of sending to the investigator.
“Ghost guns are an untraceable menace that exist for one reason — to evade law enforcement and registration,” Tong said. “They are a threat to public safety, and they are illegal in Connecticut.”
According to the attorney general, the firearm companies violated both state consumer protection laws and the 2019 criminal ghost gun ban – the former carries up to a $5,000 fine per violation.
While the attorney general mentioned a possible violation of the 2019 law, he did not comment on any criminal investigation.
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Last year, Hartford police seized 57 “ghost guns,” more than twice the amount they seized in 2021 according to the attorney general.
The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence lists Connecticut as one of 11 states that put restrictions on the sale and manufacturing of unmarked gun parts
Connecticut is one of several states that have taken civil action against gun companies for the sale of ghost guns, including California and New York.
The companies named in the lawsuit are Indie Guns of Orlando, Florida; Steel Fox Firearms of DeLand, Florida; Hell Fire Armory of Wilmington, North Carolina; and AR Industries of Orem, Utah.
“Indie Guns, Steel Fox Firearms, Hell Fire Armory and AR Industries all knew their ghost guns were illegal in Connecticut and they shipped these weapons to Connecticut anyway. We won’t let them get away with it,” said Tong.
Indie Guns owner Lawrence Destefano, whose company is also tied up in lawsuits by New York state, New York City and two other cities, denied any wrongdoing.
Destefano fears the lawsuits are an attack on “craft gun ownership” and another attempt by the government to keep track of gun owners.
“The only reason these lawsuits were filed was to force a settlement that requires the defendant to turn over customer data,” he said in a phone interview with the Associated Press. “I will never turn over unfettered, blanket, indiscriminate customer data.”
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Sounds like a butt hurt chicom needs to be relieved of his position and shipped back to his communist china! This is America and we can build arms for personal use LEGALLY! Get rid of all the commies!
As usual, inaccuracies and outright lies from those who would destroy the Bill of Rights and hence render the U. S. CONSTITUTION impotent.
I may be a bit naive but I just don’t see it. It takes a good sum of money, equipment, patience and expertise to build a gun from 80% receivers. Even if you take into account the initial expense of tooling, I just don’t see joe-criminal toiling away in his mom’s basement, cranking out glocks and AR’s for all his banger buddies. Not to mention the cost of an 80% glock in parts is usually more than picking up a hot item on your local street corner. Could be just me though….I dunno.
It sounds to me like CT is interfering in Interstate Commerce which is (supposed to be) the sole purview of the Federal Government. I’m sure that any state outlawing the importation of solar panels would be quickly subject to the wrath of A.G. Garland.
Sounds like entrapment….the state “investigator” intentionally ordered parts that he knew were illegal in his state. The companies never approached him or came to Connecticut to sell products there in violation of his state’s (unconstitutional) laws🤷♂️
80% arms STILL FULLY LEGAL to buy 80% lowers as they themselves got the okay from the ATFE/whom ever else gave them more time to keep selling their AR lowers, but also their 80% pistol that has the real unique grip system that you can buy different grip modules so if you want to shorten your frame to a G19 for example you can in seconds or swap out for full size G17 mags… very unique and smart. Just FYI as I myself bought their ambidextrous 80% lower that arrived packed nicely and has zero milling marks or messed up finish coat and came with pictograms on both sides including even the full auto pictogram most all never use, but it’s there as an option. Also think the name is 5D tactical who I think(not certain)also has the same okay to sell their 80% parts.