Manhattan lawmakers and the New York Police Department (NYPD) have teamed up to step up their "ghost gun" efforts, recently introducing new legislation that bans the manufacture of 3D printed guns and gun parts. Meanwhile, the governor of Colorado signed a bill banning the use of ghost guns. In response to growing numbers of easy-to-assemble 3D-printed guns as the U.S. cracks down on gun violence, U.S. authorities have introduced measures to separate 3D-printed guns from the broader ghost gun category (Additive manufacturing could more easily facilitate the production of ghost guns).
ghost gun surge
Addressing the problem of illegal guns on the streets is an ongoing challenge for U.S. police departments. Since New York City Mayor Eric Adams took office on January 1, 2022, the New York City Police Department has seized 8,500 illegal firearms, including more than 540 ghost guns. Comparing 2021 and 2022 figures shows a 76 percent increase in ghost gun seizures, with the department seizing 356 phantom guns in 2022, compared to 202 a year earlier. Data from the New York State Intelligence Center also points to a rise in ghost gun recoveries statewide. In 2021, law enforcement agencies across New York confiscated 637 ghost guns, a significant increase of 135% over the previous year. Law enforcement agencies in other parts of the United States, especially in major cities, have noticed a similar upward trend in ghost gun recovery rates. Firearm arrests will double and triple in 2021 and 2022, respectively, compared to the previous year.
In May alone, the NYPD made 349 arrests and seized 284 firearms, a record number of arrests. Several high-profile crackings have drawn attention, including the arrest of the brother of Hollywood actress Julia Fox, who was found in possession of ghost guns, drugs and bombs following a raid on his Manhattan home in March things.
The investigation also revealed how easily criminals can use 3D printers to manufacture weapons and their parts. The NYPD's Criminal Intelligence Division's Ghost Gun Squad has been working to intercept hundreds of illegal firearms entering New York City via conventional firearms, which refer to illegal guns flowing out of states with looser gun laws, and New York City. The emerging plastic guns refer to illegally manufactured 3D printed guns and parts.
legislative action
The NYPD and Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. are spearheading new legislation to combat ghost guns. On June 2, Bragg introduced a bill that would make it a crime to manufacture 3D printed guns and gun parts such as unfinished gun frames, receivers, magazines and gun silencers. The bill also makes 3D printing ghost guns a serious criminal offense and distributing documents containing blueprints for 3D printed gun parts a serious misdemeanor.
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△Recycled 3D printed ghost gun parts.
Bragg emphasized that advances in technology have made it possible for individuals to create dangerous weapons and firearms in their own homes. The ease of producing firearms and firearm parts poses a direct threat to community safety, and action must be taken to close these loopholes and strengthen penalties. It's worth noting that New York's strict gun laws, including the Safety Act, already prohibit online vendors from selling ghost guns.
3D printers are becoming more and more affordable and can easily find their way into homes, with popular printers like the Creality Ender 3 V2, Anycubic Mega S, and Artillery Sidewinder X1 V4 ranging in price from $200 to $400. Many websites and online forums serve as platforms for sharing models of receivers and other firearm components. Once criminals get their hands on a 3D printer and the corresponding CAD files, the consequences can be disastrous.
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△Creality Ender 3 V2 3D printer.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a new bill into law on June 2, taking a major step toward addressing the ghost gun problem. Coinciding with Gun Violence Awareness Day in America, the legislation adds to the state's historic laws passed this year aimed at making Colorado one of the safest states in the country. The possession, transport, sale and manufacture of ghost guns is now considered a criminal offense under the Non-Serializable Firearms and Firearm Parts Act. The bill also establishes a process for individuals who own ghost guns to legally register their firearms.
The U.S. legislature has enacted five gun safety laws, including the "Waiting Period to Deliver a Firearm," which requires at least three days before a purchased firearm is delivered. Another law, "Gun Violence Victims' Access To Judicial System," allows victims of gun violence to sue the gun industry. Additionally, the "Increasing Minimum Age To Purchase Firearms" law sets the minimum age to purchase firearms at 21.
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△The gun is assembled in the NYPD laboratory.
While producing ghost guns for illicit purposes has significant legal ramifications, many organizations and individuals have highlighted the need to strike a balance between addressing public safety concerns and safeguarding individual rights and technological advancement. Many proponents advocate "ownership" ending scenarios, such as implementing personal background checks and protecting design files on encrypted platforms, to mitigate potential risks associated with the production and distribution of 3D printed firearms. By raising awareness of the potential dangers, legal implications, and ethical responsibilities associated with the manufacture of firearms, those involved need to make informed decisions and use additive manufacturing for the good of society.
