Substitute House Bill No. 7219 - An Act Concerning Ghost Guns

• Prohibits removing, defacing, or oblitating serial numbers and identification marks on firearms; violation is a Class C felony with minimum 2-year sentence and $5,000 fine, plus firearm forfeiture.

• Requires persons manufacturing firearms to obtain a unique serial number from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection within 30 days of manufacture and engrave it on the firearm per federal standards.

• Prohibits manufacturing polymer firearms that cannot be detected by metal detectors; violation is a Class C felony with same penalties as serial number violations.

• Regulates unfinished frames and lower receivers by requiring serial numbers obtained from state or federal sources before transfer, with purchase procedures identical to pistol regulations; applies to all persons effective October 1, 2019.

• Establishes expedited issuance of serial numbers by state department within 3 business days and authorizes prosecution suspension for non-serious first violations if defendant completes probation conditions, after which charges may be dismissed and records erased.