New York State has proposed a new assembly bill aimed at regulating the sale of 3D printers capable of producing firearms or their components. Sponsored by Senator Jennifer Rajkumar, the bill, known as State Assembly Bill A02228, mandates that sellers obtain and review criminal history information of prospective buyers before completing transactions related to such printers. This measure seeks to address growing concerns over the illegal manufacturing of homemade firearms, commonly referred to as ghost guns, which have become increasingly prevalent.
In a notable case, a 3D-printed Glock-style gun was allegedly used by Luigi Mangione in the assassination of a United Healthcare CEO, underscoring the potential dangers of unregulated 3D printing technology. Senator Rajkumar pointed out that while 100 untraceable 3D-printed guns were confiscated in New York City in 2019, that number surged to 637 by 2022, reflecting a disturbing trend in gun violence linked to these firearms.
Currently, individuals can manufacture untraceable firearms using 3D printers without undergoing background checks, leading to significant public safety concerns. Rajkumar emphasized that the proposed law is essential to ensure firearms produced through 3D printing do not fall into the hands of individuals who may misuse them.
This isn’t Rajkumar’s first attempt at such legislation; a similar initiative in 2023 did not progress past committee review. The new bill is open for public comments on the New York State Legislature’s website, where it has already drawn some criticism. Opponents argue that the bill represents government overreach and question its effectiveness in addressing the actual problem of gun violence.
However, advocates for the bill believe it serves as a necessary control measure, particularly as the technical capabilities for producing firearms with 3D printers have advanced. Experts note that while 3D printing firearms is legally complex, it is not impossible and that the mix of 3D-printed components with traditionally manufactured firearm parts is becoming increasingly common.
As the legislative process unfolds, questions remain regarding the effectiveness of such regulations in preventing gun violence and whether they will merely inconvenience law-abiding 3D printing enthusiasts.