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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

      Printing Violence: Urgent Policy Actions Are Needed to Combat 3D-Printed Guns Report
      1. 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. 
      2. 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.
      3. 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. 
      4. 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

      AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

      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

      Stop the Spread of 3D-Printed Guns

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      Did you know?

      Every day, 125 people in the United States are killed with guns, twice as many are shot and wounded, and countless others are impacted by acts of gun violence.

      Everytown Research analysis of CDC, WONDER, Provisional Mortality Statistics, Multiple Cause of Death, 2019–2023; Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project nonfatal firearm injury data, 2020; and SurveyUSA, Market Research Study #26602, 2022.

      Last updated: 11.8.2024