A small group of forensic researchers is challenging the notion that 3D-printed ghost guns are entirely untraceable, offering new hope to law enforcement. Kirk Garrison, a forensics expert with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, has begun identifying unique toolmarks — akin to fingerprints — left by 3D printers, which may eventually help link firearms back to the machines that produced them.
Garrison’s research, initiated in 2018, has led to early findings that demonstrate how printed objects carry distinct microscopic marks. Collaborating with researchers from the University of Central Oklahoma, Garrison’s team has shown a 100% success rate in matching printed items to their originating print sheets, and about 75% accuracy with nozzle identification. Despite these promising results, experts caution that significant research is still needed before such techniques can be reliably used in court.
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