Combating the Rise of 3D-Printed Firearms Amidst Concerns Over Public Safety

Fri Oct 17 2025 08:56:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A surge in the recovery of 3D-printed firearms has prompted urgent discussions among lawmakers, advocates, and industry leaders to tackle this growing threat to public safety as untraceable weapons proliferate.

As police report increasing incidents of 3D-printed firearms involved in crimes, advocates and law enforcement are convening to address the challenges posed by these untraceable weapons. At a summit in New York, experts aim to devise strategies and legislation to combat the rise of 3D-printed guns, echoing previous concerns over ghost guns. The growing accessibility of 3D printers and gun blueprints online troubles officials who seek to prevent unregulated weapon production.

Police departments across the United States have reported an alarming increase in the number of 3D-printed firearms being recovered at crime scenes, sparking concerns among gun safety advocates and law enforcement about a potential rise in untraceable weapons that could surpass the existing issue of ghost guns.

During a recent summit in New York City, the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety gathered policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and law enforcement officials to confront this escalating threat. They expressed concern that with the declining cost and advancing technology of 3D printers, coupled with the rapid dissemination of gun part blueprints online, the country may be on the brink of a new wave of unregulated, homemade weapons that bypass traditional safety measures such as serial-number tracking and background checks.

Data sourced from various police departments reveals a stark trend: the quantity of 3D-printed guns retrieved has risen from just over 30 in 2020 to more than 300 by 2024. While these figures still represent a small percentage of the thousands of firearms confiscated annually by nearly 18,000 police agencies in the U.S., the growth rate resembles the early patterns observed with ghost guns—build-it-yourself weapons that previously escaped federal oversight.

“We are now starting to see a concerning pattern that feels very familiar,” stated Nick Suplina, Everytown's senior vice president for law and policy. “The recoveries in certain major cities are doubling or tripling year over year, which prompts us to assemble this group to discuss preventive measures.

A significant challenge arises from the nature of 3D-printed firearms, which are not produced or sold through conventional firearms outlets, placing them outside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulatory framework. Unlike ghost guns, where regulations have recently been tightened—requiring background checks, age verification, and serial numbers—3D-printed weapons require innovative regulatory approaches due to their manufacturing processes. Advocates and lawmakers are now focusing on possible legislative measures to inform and adapt to the evolving landscape of gun manufacturing, including potential criminalization of the distribution of blueprints for these firearms.

In tandem, efforts are underway to engage with the tech industry to impose voluntary restrictions on the distribution of gun templates and initiate preventive measures. For instance, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has prompted digital platforms to enhance their policies, ensuring the removal of potentially harmful tutorials and blueprints while encouraging printer manufacturers to embed safety protocols that can detect and prevent the fabrication of gun components.

Companies involved in the production of 3D printers have begun to collaborate on developing firmware that can identify gun part geometries, barring their fabrication—an advancement that industry experts liken to measures taken historically against counterfeiting. John Amin, CEO of Print & Go, is among those advocating for a balanced approach that focuses on preventing misuse without stigmatising the technology itself, which holds great potential when used responsibly.

As public safety hinges on the actions taken by both the government and industry leaders, discussions like the one in New York could shape the future of gun regulation in the age of 3D printing.