The December 2024 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson using a 3D-printed gun highlights the escalating threat of these untraceable “ghost guns.”
These firearms, made in whole or in part with commercially available 3D printers, are increasingly turning up in criminal activities, posing significant challenges for law enforcement and policymakers around the world. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing the legality of federal restrictions on these weapons.
The first documented criminal case involving a 3D printed weapon occurred in Britain in 2013. Since then, its prevalence has increased rapidly. According to a 2024 report from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. law enforcement seized nearly 38,000 suspected ghost guns between 2017 and 2021.
More than 19,000 were detected in 2021 alone, a sharp increase from just over 8,500 in 2020. New York State saw a dramatic increase from 100 seizures in 2019 to 637 in 2022. The number of arrests is also increasing, with 108 worldwide in the first half. of 2023, compared to 66 in all of 2022.
North America leads in 3D printed gun-related arrests (166 from 2013 to June 2023), followed by Europe (48) and Oceania (24). The US will be responsible for 36% of global arrests in 2023, closely followed by Canada (34%). The United Kingdom and Australia represent 10% and 8% respectively.
According to a report in The conversationThese weapons have been linked to a wide range of groups, including far-right extremists, ethno-separatists, jihadists, left-wing anarchists, organized crime and pro-democracy rebels. From 2019 to mid-2022, at least nine cases in Europe and Australia involved extremists, terrorists or paramilitary groups attempting or succeeding in producing 3D-printed firearms. Analysis of 165 cases between 2013 and mid-2024 shows that 15% were terrorism-related, with far-right groups being the most frequent users.
The lack of serial numbers on these homemade weapons makes them difficult to trace, which is a big draw for criminals. Global regulatory approaches vary considerably.
Japan strictly prohibits the unauthorized production of firearms, including 3D printed weapons, and imposes strict penalties. Canada effectively banned ghost guns in 2023, which required licenses to possess or manufacture. Australia criminalizes both the making and, in some states, the possession of blueprints for 3D-printed firearms, with possible prison sentences of up to 21 years. The EU broadly bans the making or possession of homemade firearms, with varying laws and penalties, including criminalizing the possession of digital files. Britain recently updated its legislation to specifically ban owning, purchasing or producing parts for 3D printed weapons, and is considering banning the possession of blueprints.
In the US, the Second Amendment and the First Amendment present unique regulatory challenges. Although the sale of 3D printed firearms requires a federal license, producing or possessing them for personal use is permitted, including 3D printing the lower receiver. Current federal law, overseen by the Supreme Court, requires 3D printed gun kits to meet specific guidelines, including licensing, background checks and serial numbers. Converting semi-automatic firearms into automatic weapons using 3D printed “Glock switches” is illegal and carries significant penalties.
State-level regulations are also emerging. By November 2024, 15 US states had implemented ghost gun regulations, typically requiring serial numbers, background checks and reporting of 3D printed firearm production. New Jersey, for example, requires serial numbers and registration, while New York is considering making it a crime to make 3D printed firearms.
As 3D printing technology continues to develop, the challenge of regulating these weapons and limiting the threat they pose to public safety is likely to increase.