Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a bill on Friday that banned the sale of "ghost guns," becoming the twelfth in the nation to prohibit untraceable firearms.
Ghost guns are firearms without serial numbers that are made privately or put together through kits. In some cases, they can even be 3D-printed. Colorado's new law includes a process for anyone in possession of one to register it legally.
"Every Coloradan deserves to feel safe in their homes, schools, and communities without fear of gun violence," Polis said in a statement. "I am proud of the achievements reached this year to improve gun safety and reduce crime, but the work is not done. In order to make Colorado one of the top ten safest states, we must continue to come together to build on these public safety accomplishments."
Alongside Colorado, 11 other states have restrictions on untraceable firearms, according to gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, who notes that their prominence is increasing at an alarming rate.
"The number of ghost guns recovered by law enforcement in the US has increased at an alarming rate — rising 398 percent from 2016 to 2020," the organization writes. "Nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered across the country during that five-year period."
Other states with restrictions include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington.
In April, Polis signed several other gun control policies which established a three-day waiting period to receive a firearm after purchase, raised the minimum purchasing age to 21, lifted barriers to sue gun manufacturers, and expanded existing red flag laws.
"I am grateful to all the legislative leaders, advocates, and survivors who have raised their voices, shared their stories, and called for data-driven, common-sense policies that honor our Second Amendment rights and reduce gun violence, the governor continued.
