Police departments across the United States are reporting a sharp increase in 3D-printed firearms showing up at crime scenes, prompting urgent warnings from gun safety advocates and law enforcement. At a summit in New York City on October 16, the group Everytown for Gun Safety convened experts and policymakers and addressed the growing threat of untraceable weapons that can be made at home with affordable 3D printers.
Despite tighter federal rules on ghost-gun kits (requiring serial numbers and background checks), 3D-printed weapons operate in a legal gray zone. Because they’re not sold through licensed manufacturers, they bypass most regulations and are difficult to trace once assembled. Advocates fear this new wave of technology could unleash an even larger flood of unregulated firearms.
Officials like Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have called on tech platforms to take down online blueprints and restrict tutorials that teach users how to print gun parts. Without stronger oversight, experts warn, the digital age could make gun control even harder to enforce.
Curious? Check out this gallery to learn more about how ghost guns and 3D printing are reshaping America’s gun debate—and why these untraceable weapons are so difficult to stop.