MARTINSBURG, W.V. – Within the research lab of the U.S. agency responsible for regulating firearms, a dozen 3D printers were busy creating objects from thermoplastic material, which will eventually take the shape of guns designed on a computer.

Located at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Services Center in West Virginia, ATF personnel access the latest firearm blueprints along with small devices known as “auto-sears.” These auto-sears are capable of converting firearms for increased firing speed, classifying them as machine guns themselves.

The advanced $2,500 printers illustrate how both enthusiasts and criminals can take advantage of quickly evolving technology, leaving the agency striving to remain ahead of the curve.

On Friday, ATF Director Steven Dettelbach and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco launched new measures aimed at addressing the rise of 3D-printed “machinegun conversion devices” (MCDs), which can look like harmless items such as a bottle opener or Lego block, yet can transform semi-automatic guns into fully automatic weapons.

At the ATF’s facility, agents are knowledgeable about both firearm specifications and the technical processes needed to convert a digital plan into printing commands for a 3D printer.

In less than an hour and for only 40 cents, they produced a plastic component that could fetch hundreds of dollars on the black market, while simultaneously risking a decade in prison.

“MCDs can turn a neighborhood into a battlefield, ruining communities,” Monaco noted. “The increasing number of these devices calls for our immediate and continuous focus.”

She revealed the establishment of a new Department of Justice committee aimed at developing strategies against these devices, a training program for law enforcement to identify and confiscate them, and a concerted effort led by U.S. Attorneys to prioritize legal cases concerning these devices.

In various states, U.S. attorneys have initiated efforts with catchy titles like Operation Flip the Switch and Operation Kill Switch, referencing the attachments that convert popular Glock handguns into machine guns.

Beyond focusing on tracking down and prosecuting creators of these illegal devices, the ATF seeks collaboration from academics and the additive manufacturing sector.

Dettelbach emphasized that the 3D printing industry has a significant role in preventing the illegal use of their technologies.

“We cannot tackle this public safety concern on our own. We need to enhance awareness, inform the public, and collectively work with experts to foster significant improvements,” Dettelbach remarked.

He also stated that MCDs represent the majority of firearms seized in trafficking incidents across the country.

Gun safety advocates expressed their support for Friday’s announcement aimed at creating new solutions to combat machine gun conversion devices.

Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety, likened this effort to early initiatives by color printer manufacturers to prevent counterfeit money. These companies implemented controls to stop their products from aiding criminal activities.

“This is a highly critical situation that will only escalate as technology advances, making collaboration between the private sector and law enforcement imperative for ensuring gun safety,” Suplina stated. “In the age of 3D printing, we must adopt similar measures for downloadable firearms and accessories.”

While it is legal to create personal firearms that fire single shots and to print certain gun parts for hobbyist purposes, further manufacturing is set to undergo a crucial legal evaluation in October. The Supreme Court will deliberate on the legality of “ghost guns,” which lack serial numbers and are made from kits.

Some cities, like Chicago, Recent lawsuits have shifted the focus towards Glock, despite the company being unrelated to the illegal devices that mimic its trademarks. Cities like Chicago, along with other states, are urging the handgun manufacturer to make their firearms harder to convert into illegal versions.

According to the most recent data from the ATF, there are likely thousands of these devices, whether imported or made at home, already found in the United States.

During a visit to the ATF’s testing facility in West Virginia, officials explained that manufacturers frequently advertise these illegal devices under misleading terms like “keychains,” “bottle openers,” or “fidget spinners,” even though their true purpose is to alter rifles or handguns into machine guns.

The legislation from 1934 that outlawed Thompson submachine guns also includes provisions against these devices, as they meet the definition: “Any part that is explicitly designed for, or can be used in, converting a weapon into a machine gun.”

Authorities have cited the shooting death of Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire in Pennsylvania in 2023 as an example of the dangerous impact these devices can have. The individual who shot McIntire utilized a pistol with an extended magazine and an illegal conversion device.

These devices have also been linked to mass shootings, including a tragic incident in Sacramento in 2022 that resulted in six fatalities and twelve injuries, as well as a shooting by a street gang in Fresno, California in 2019 that led to four deaths and six injuries.