Stop the Spread of 3D-Printed Guns
Stop the Spread of 3D-Printed Guns
What does this solve?
We need stronger policies, targeted interventions, and action from 3D-printing companies to combat the dangers of 3D-printed firearms.
3D-printed ghost guns are designed to avoid detection and can be made at home, often with no questions asked. People prohibited from owning firearms—including minors, felons, and extremists—can find blueprints in online communities where ideological propaganda is freely shared alongside 3D-printed firearm assembly guides.
How it works
Stopping the Spread of 3D-Printed Firearms
- 3D printer manufacturers and software companies should: (a) develop and implement algorithms that detect and block the printing of firearms and accessories, and (b) remove gun blueprints from their platforms.
- Public institutions like schools, libraries, and community tech labs should implement clear policies and software restrictions to block the printing of firearm components on 3D printers.
- State legislatures should act: (a) explicitly making it a crime to 3D print guns or to possess 3D printed guns; (b) making it illegal to publish or distribute 3D gun blueprints and enforcing that law by taking down any blueprints posted online or elsewhere; and (c) regulating 3D-printing technology in a manner that makes it impossible to use a 3D printer to make a DIY gun.
- Social media and other online platforms should moderate content that promotes or distributes 3D-printed gun blueprints or features instructions and advice for building 3D-printed firearms.
Which states regulate ghost guns?
15 states have adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Alabama has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Alaska has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Arizona has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Arkansas has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
California has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Colorado has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers for component parts.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Connecticut has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no plastic undetectable guns.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Delaware has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, no plastic undetectable guns, no 3D printing of guns, no distribution of 3D printing instructions.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Florida has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Georgia has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Hawaii has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no 3D printing of guns.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Idaho has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Illinois has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for all firearms and component parts
Ghost Guns Regulated
Indiana has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Iowa has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Kansas has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Kentucky has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Louisiana has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Maine has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Maryland has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for all firearms and component parts. All ghost guns must be reported to officials.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Massachusetts has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for all firearms and component parts. All ghost guns must be reported to officials.
Ghost Guns Regulated
Michigan has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Minnesota has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Mississippi has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Missouri has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Montana has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Nebraska has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Nevada has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts
Ghost Guns Regulated
New Hampshire has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
New Jersey has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no 3D printing of guns, no distribution of 3D printing instructions, no plastic undetectable guns.
Ghost Guns Regulated
New Mexico has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
New York has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no plastic undetectable guns.
Ghost Guns Regulated
North Carolina has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
North Dakota has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Ohio has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Oklahoma has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Oregon has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Prohibits undetectable firearms, including 3D printed guns; requires all firearms, frames, and receivers to be serialized
Ghost Guns Regulated
Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Rhode Island has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, no 3D printing of guns
Ghost Guns Regulated
South Carolina has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
South Dakota has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Tennessee has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Texas has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Utah has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Vermont has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for all firearms and component parts
Ghost Guns Regulated
Virginia has not adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- No plastic undetectable guns
Ghost Guns Regulated
Washington has adopted this policy
- What does the state law require?
- Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, no plastic undetectable guns
Ghost Guns Regulated
West Virginia has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Wisconsin has not adopted this policy
Ghost Guns Regulated
Wyoming has not adopted this policy
All Resources
Stop the Spread of 3D-Printed Guns
All Resources
Printing Violence: Urgent Policy Actions Are Needed to Combat 3D-Printed Guns
Policymakers, technology firms, and civil society must act urgently to address the dangers of 3D-printed firearms (3DPFs).
ReportThe Smoking Gun
An online resource committed to exposing the gun industry’s role in our gun violence epidemic today.
Everytown Research & PolicyGhost Guns Recoveries and Shootings
Everytown Research & Policy has collected examples of reported murders and shootings using ghost guns since 2013.
Data Tracker
ATF’s Final Rule to End the Proliferation of Dangerous, Untraceable Ghost Guns
The ATF announced a final rulemaking clarifying that the core building blocks of ghost guns are firearms under the law.
Fact SheetATF & the Rising Threat of Ghost Guns
Ghost guns are emerging as a weapon of choice for criminals, gun traffickers, extremists, and others banned from legally buying firearms.
Fact Sheet
Update Background Check Laws
Updating federal and state laws to require background checks on all gun sales is a common-sense way to keep guns out of the wrong hands.
Fact Sheet
Untraceable: The Rising Specter of Ghost Guns
Ghost guns are do-it-yourself, homemade guns made from easy-to-get, unregulated building blocks.
Report