Texas ghost gun manufacturer will have to face lawsuit in California, not Texas

SAN DIEGO (CN) — An Austin, Texas-based manufacturer of milling machines that allow people to build their own untraceable guns will have to face a lawsuit brought by the state of California in state court in San Diego after a judge on Friday denied its motion to transfer the case to a federal court in Texas.

In May, California — through the County of San Diego's Office of County Counsel — sued Texas-based companies Defense Distributed, Coast Runner Industries and Ghost Gunner for making computer numerical control milling machines that allow customers to manufacture their own firearms without serial numbers, commonly known as ghost guns, which are untraceable and harder for law enforcement to track.

The state accuses the companies of specifically marketing the machines to Californians wanting to bypass the state’s strict gun laws.

U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia, a Barack Obama appointee, determined in his Friday order “California is a real party in interest, there is no diversity of citizenship and remand is required,” and additionally granting California’s request to move the case back down to San Diego Superior Court where it was originally filed.

https://www.courthousenews.com/texas-ghost-gun-manufacturer-will-have-to-face-lawsuit-in-california-not-texas/