Manhattan’s District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, is making strides to curb the production of untraceable “ghost guns” by reaching out to the Chinese manufacturer of 3D printers, Shenzhen Creality 3D Technology. Following a string of crimes involving firearms produced by these printers, Bragg has requested that the company implement software to prevent the printing of commonly used gun components.
In his letter, which was sent on Wednesday, Bragg urged Creality to remove blueprints for weapon parts from its cloud platform, which currently allows users to print firearms without undergoing background checks. He plans to send similar communications to other companies in the 3D printing industry.
Bragg expressed hope for a collaborative effort to enhance public safety, stating, "We are hopeful that we can partner with these companies and make a meaningful impact on public safety."
The call for action comes in light of several weapons seized by the NYPD and the DA’s office that had been made using Creality printers. The letter detailed two notable cases: one involved a suspect arrested for drug manufacturing and 3D-printing of assault weapons, while in another instance, a man created an "arsenal" of weapons in his apartment after threatening his girlfriend.
Statistics presented in Bragg’s letter indicate a significant rise in ghost gun seizures in New York, with reports claiming 438 such weapons were confiscated in 2024, compared to just 151 in 2021. He also referenced high-profile crimes, including a case where a ghost gun was allegedly used to kill a prominent healthcare executive.
Bragg’s proactive measure reflects growing concerns and legislative efforts to address the issue of unregulated firearms produced through 3D printing technology.