Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, a prominent gun rights group in Colorado, has filed a federal lawsuit against the state over a new law banning "ghost guns." The group argues that the law is unconstitutional and infringes on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The law, known as Senate Bill 23-279, was signed into effect by Colorado Governor Jared Polis on Monday and prohibits the possession, transport, purchase, and ownership of gun frames and receivers that do not have serial numbers.

The lawsuit, filed by the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and the National Association for Gun Rights, claims that the ban on ghost guns violates Americans' Second Amendment rights. Taylor Rhodes, the executive director of the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, stated that the law is not just an overreach but a direct defiance of Second Amendment freedoms. Rhodes also referenced a recent Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which overturned a New York gun safety law requiring a license to carry concealed weapons in public because it was deemed unconstitutional. Rhodes argues that the Colorado law does not align with the historical understanding of the Second Amendment and therefore should not stand.

The ban on ghost guns in Colorado comes in response to a significant increase in their reported use in crimes. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the use of ghost guns in crimes has risen by 1,000% between 2017 and 2021. These firearms, which are assembled at home or 3D printed and lack serial numbers, are difficult for law enforcement to trace and allow individuals to evade background checks.

Gun control regulations passed by Colorado's Democratic legislature and signed by Governor Polis have faced several lawsuits from gun rights groups. In addition to the ban on ghost guns, other laws being challenged include raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21 and imposing a three-day waiting period between purchase and receipt of a firearm.

The outcome of this lawsuit is expected to have implications not only for gun legislation in Colorado but also across the United States. The Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and the National Association for Gun Rights are urging supporters and gun rights advocates to stand with them in challenging the law. They argue that the fight for constitutional rights is never easy but always worth it, and they are committed to ensuring that Coloradans can exercise their Second Amendment rights without undue governmental intrusion.

The governor's office, represented by spokesperson Shelby Wieman, declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. President Joe Biden's crackdown on ghost guns through new rules is also facing legal challenges in federal court. The debate over gun control continues to be a contentious issue in the United States, with advocates on both sides fiercely defending their positions.