First Conviction Under San Diego’s Ordinance Banning ‘Ghost Gun’ Possession

A man sentenced last week for possessing an unserialized “ghost gun” is the first person charged and convicted under the city of San Diego’s ordinance banning the weapons, the San Diego City Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

The city’s Eliminate Non-Serialized Untraceable Firearms ordinance went into effect last October, about two months before 23-year-old Rene Orozco was arrested for leading police on a car chase in City Heights, then tossing the gun as he ran from officers.

The ordinance prohibits the sale and possession of so-called ghost guns, firearms that lack serial numbers and are often assembled from purchased or homemade components.

The ordinance, authored by Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, was introduced shortly after a man opened fire on several people in the Gaslamp Quarter in April of last year, killing one person and injuring several others. Police allege the gunman used a ghost gun in the shooting.