This story was originally published byThe Trace, a nonprofit newsroom coveringgun violence.
But that has begun to change.
In recent years, crimes involving ghost gunsseem to have abatedacross much of the United States.
Untraceable ghost guns manufactured in Floral Park, New York, pictured on Dec. 10, 2024.Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM/Getty Images
What is a 3D-printed gun?
In the simplest terms, its any firearm that includes components manufactured with a 3D printer.
But 3D-printed guns vary a lot.
Some models like the 3D-printed gun company Defense Distributeds Liberator can be made almost entirely on a 3D printer.
Others require many additional parts, which are often metal.
These developments have lowered the barriers to entry for those in search of untraceable guns.
The process still remains more involved than most methods of obtaining a firearm, though.
Why are they a big deal?
They are a form ofghost gun: unserialized, and unable to be traced if recovered by law enforcement.
On a few occasions, crimes involving the guns have made headlines.
In February 2019, policearresteda Texas man after he was found test-firing a 3D-printed gun in the woods.
Indeed, Transportation Security Administration officers have seized 3D-printed firearms at airports onseveraloccasions.
Is it legal to make a gun using a 3D printer?
In most cases, yes.
In New Jersey, you are supposed to obtain a federal manufacturing license before 3D-printing a gun.
What about sharing the blueprints online?
The legality of sharing the files required to print guns and gun components is murkier territory.
No federal legislation bans the practice.
But in 2013, the State Department ruled that releasing blueprints online violated arms export laws.
But before the prohibition was lifted, a coalition of states sued to keep it in place and won.
Defense Distributedmaintainsit has established a vetting procedure to ensure only U.S. residents are able to download them.
The Trump administration transferred oversight of gun exports from the State Department to the Commerce Department in 2019.
The change requires people interested in publishing 3D-printed gun blueprints to obtain a special license.
A federal judge dismissed the countersuit, but Defense Distributed has appealed.
Who is printing guns and why?
Proponents of the technology fall into several different camps.
To 3D-print a gun, you oughta have enough money to buy a printer.
Then you need enough expertise and experience to know how to use the printer.
If your axis is off by 0.15 millimeters the gun isnt going to work, he said.
To buy a black market firearm would be much easier.
Kamil said hes owned 32 printers and completed two apprenticeships with gun manufacturers.
Others see the potential for armed conflict with the government as the driving force behind their creations.
Just look whats happening to them.
No ones helping them.
You know what would help them?
If they were armed.
That would be a deterrence.
Live free, or die.
These are not empty words.
Are these groups aligned with extremists?
He did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
It is unclear if any of the auto sears used in these crimes were designed by Deterrence Dispensed.
