Gun safety advocates and law enforcement officials warn of a significant increase in 3D-printed firearms, with recoveries rising from just over 30 in 2020 to more than 300 in 2024. This trend signals a potential shift towards unregulated weapons that evade traditional firearm tracking measures, prompting urgent discussions among policymakers, academics, and industry leaders at a recent summit in New York City.
As the technology for 3D printers advances and blueprints circulate online, the challenge of regulating these homemade weapons becomes more complex. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) currently lacks jurisdiction over 3D-printed guns, leading to calls for new legislation to criminalize production and distribution of gun blueprints. Disturbingly, the increase mirrors the historical emergence of ghost guns, which previously overwhelmed law enforcement and prompted new federal regulations.
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