SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — San Diego County and city officials announced proposals Wednesday to ban so-called "ghost guns" countywide, among other initiatives aimed at stemming gun violence locally.
The proposed policies to be voted on next week by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors would call for the creation of an ordinance banning the possession or distribution of unserialized parts used to create ghost guns, in addition to establishing countywide firearm storage standards.
Ghost guns, also known as "do-it-yourself guns," are homemade, personally manufactured firearms that do not have commercial serial numbers. They are untraceable due to the lack of identifying markings and therefore can evade state and federal regulations that apply to firearms such as background checks.
The proposed measures would also prohibit the 3D printing of unserialized firearms or precursor parts and establish safe storage requirements for county gun owners.
If the proposed policy passes at the Oct. 19 Board of Supervisors meeting, county staff would also work with community leaders to create preventative gun violence "reduction and disruption" programs.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher, who introduced the policies at a Wednesday news conference along with County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, said, "We are bringing common-sense gun reforms to San Diego County. Unserialized guns are a clear and present danger that is impacting our communities; by regulating their use and production, we will save lives. Our inclusion of safe storage practices in this policy will protect gun owners, their families, and visitors; and by investing in gun violence prevention programs, our early intervention can protect individuals in our community from harm."
Lawson-Remer said, "These protections will save lives by targeting the manufacturers of untraceable ghost guns -- helping to make sure they don't fall into the wrong hands. As the mother of a toddler, I don't want a future where she has to practice active shooter drills or where I live in dread of a text message saying her school is on lockdown. We have the power to change this, and it starts with approving these common-sense safety regulations."
The policy follows a recently enacted ordinance banning ghost guns in the city of San Diego.
The city's Eliminate Non-serialized Untraceable Firearm -- or E.N.U.F. -- Ordinance was signed last month by Mayor Todd Gloria and is slated to go into effect Oct. 23.
San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert -- who authored the city's ghost gun legislation -- said, "Ghost guns are wreaking havoc in our communities and we need every level of government to act to close the ghost gun loophole. Like we did in the City of San Diego, I am thankful that the County of San Diego is cracking down on untraceable, non-serialized firearms and firearm parts to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose danger to our communities -- including violent criminals, domestic abusers, individuals suffering from mental illness and terrorists."
These proposals on the county level come the same day that California's Attorney General announced a lawsuit aimed at three major gun manufacturers that sell these untraceable ghost gun kits, including GS Performance, which has a retail store in San Diego.
"This industry will become more dangerous if it is not properly regulated," said state Attorney General Rob Bonta as he introduced the suit Wednesday.
The civil complaint claims that firearms producers Blackhawk Manufacturing Group, MDX Corporation and GS Performance mislead buyers into believing the ghost gun kits sold online are legal, without explaining the consumers' legal obligation in California to apply for a serial number for their firearm, as well as complete a background check.
"When firearms are built at home by individuals who have not passed a background check and have not had their guns properly serialized, it leaves law enforcement in the dark and it leaves all of us less safe," Bonta added.
News 8 has reached out to the three manufacturers named in the lawsuit for comment but had not yet received a response as of Wednesday night.
To take a look at the entire lawsuit filed by the state Attorney General, click here.
WATCH RELATED: Firearms supporters challenge San Diego's ban on ghost guns with lawsuit