California Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced final judgments against Blackhawk Manufacturing, GS Performance LLC (Glockstore), and MDX Corporation. The companies are permanently prohibited from manufacturing or selling unserialized ghost gun kits and firearm precursor parts in California. These parts can be easily converted into a firearm frame or receiver.
The companies will also pay civil penalties: $500,000 from Blackhawk, $120,000 from Glockstore, and $55,000 from MDX. The judgments resolve allegations that the companies violated state and federal laws in their manufacturing, advertising, and sale of ghost gun kits and firearm precursor parts.
“The manufacture and sale of ghost gun kits has created a largely chaotic industry that is a massive threat to public safety,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “As firearm-related deaths and injuries rise, we must look for upstream interventions that get to the crux of the gun violence epidemic. Getting these manufacturers and retailers to keep untraceable ghost guns off the market is a big win for public health and safety in California.”
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins emphasized the public safety risks posed by unlawful ghost guns: “This lawsuit should serve as a reminder that firearms laws must be followed, particularly with respect to the importation and sale of firearm precursor parts into California.”
Esther Sanchez-Gomez from GIFFORDS Law Center noted the broader implications: “Keeping these untraceable guns out of the state will save lives."
Brook Dooley of Keker, Van Nest & Peters added: “These manufacturers have circumvented California’s gun safety laws for far too long... The unchecked proliferation of ghost guns will no longer undermine the safety of our communities.”
Ghost gun kits can be assembled into functional weapons quickly without serial numbers or background checks. This makes them attractive to individuals legally prohibited from owning firearms. Data shows a significant increase in recovered ghost guns by law enforcement in California between 2015 to 2021.
The complaint filed in 2021 alleged violations including non-compliance with serialization requirements under federal Gun Control Act provisions, failure to conduct background checks, violation of California’s Unsafe Handgun Act by producing handguns lacking required safety features, among others.
Under the terms of the judgments, Blackhawk, Glockstore, and MDX are permanently barred from manufacturing or selling unserialized firearm precursor parts in California. They must also ensure compliance through employee training and customer notifications.
Since filing the complaint, AB 1621 was passed in 2022 making such sales generally illegal in California. These judgments hold defendants accountable under existing federal and state laws prior to AB 1621's enactment.
Attorney General Bonta reaffirmed his commitment to tackling gun violence through various measures including defending common-sense gun laws like assault weapon bans, educating on gun violence prevention via data reports from his office's Office of Gun Violence Prevention; drafting regulations on firearm precursor part identification; advocating for stronger accountability within the firearm industry; seizing guns from prohibited persons; conducting multiagency sweeps targeting illegal purchases; collaborating with local law enforcement partners; calling for investigations into ammunition plants selling military-grade ammunition subsidized by taxpayers.
A copy of relevant documents including complaints against Blackhawk Manufacturing can be accessed online.
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