Over the years, American detectives have made significant progress in solving crimes by tracing firearms. Typically, homicide investigators employ ballistics tests and check serial numbers against an extensive network comprising gun shop records, manufacturer IDs, and crime databases.

However, these investigative methods are quickly becoming outdated due to the increasing prevalence of untraceable 3D-printed firearms and silencers, similar to those discovered on suspected murderer Luigi Mangione. Experts reported to YSL News that as 3D printer prices decrease—some are available on Amazon for under $300—criminals are likely to take greater interest in them.

The ‘ghost gun’ and silencer reportedly found in Mangione’s possession at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s were created using a 3D printer in conjunction with commonly obtainable metal components, as stated by Altoona Police.

“It was inevitable that one of these would be involved in a high-profile shooting,” commented David Pucino, legal director at Giffords Law Center, an organization advocating for gun violence prevention.

The homemade firearm linked to the projectile casings found at Brian Thompson’s murder scene is just one of many alarming incidents occurring nationwide involving 3D-printed guns.

Once seen as a novelty, these weapons have evolved into a significant and untraceable threat within the criminal landscape. Arrests associated with 3D-printed firearms have surged threefold recently, with federal authorities seizing over 25,000 homemade guns in 2022 alone. As the quality of 3D printers improves and prices drop, this trend shows no diminishing, potentially transforming America into a lawless frontier of untraceable firearms, according to experts, former law enforcement officials, and the White House.

The regulation of ghost guns largely consists of inconsistent state laws, although President Joe Biden has vowed to change this situation. Earlier this year, Biden initiated an Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force through an executive order in September to evaluate and address the risks posed by unregistered 3D-printed firearms.

Ease and Affordability of Producing Ghost Guns on the Rise

“This is the most frightening situation I’ve ever witnessed,” stated Felipe Rodriguez, a long-time professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, in an interview with YSL News. “You’re essentially creating lethal items in the shadows. These devices are emerging from nowhere and resulting in fatalities.”

Rodriguez, a retired detective sergeant, reminisced about the successful operations his NYPD team conducted against arms smuggling along Interstate 95, dubbed the “Iron Pipeline” by officers.

Now, a new route has emerged—the digital landscape. Rodriguez warned that 3D printers are likely to exacerbate the issue of illegal firearms significantly.

“While the NYPD has been proactive, how do you stop individuals using a 3D printer?” Rodriguez said. “The dynamics around firearms have indeed transformed.”

Homemade gun printing also circumvents the traditional intermediaries—manufacturers and retailers—used to trace firearms back to individuals, he pointed out.

“I honestly cannot predict what will be produced next,” Rodriguez remarked, “will plastic grenades come into play?”

The answer appears to be affirmative. In 2017, the U.S. Military introduced a 3D-printed grenade launcher named Rambo and successfully fired a 3D-printed grenade using it, as indicated by the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center.

“This demonstration indicates that 3D printing may hold promise for developing weapon prototypes, allowing engineers to supply munitions to soldiers more swiftly,” the Army agency stated.

Firearms like the one discovered with Mangione are quite affordable and simple to construct. Ghost Guns—a leading provider in this sector—offers a 3D printer starter kit for approximately $300, which includes blueprints for a .22 caliber pistol and the filament utilized by the printer. The machine operates by creating layered prints from plastic filament that harden into the desired item.

Firearms are just one category of the many weapons these devices can produce. They can also manufacture “sears” or switches that enable guns to operate as automatic firearms, along with grenades and explosive devices.

Mangione’s weapon was identified as a Glock-style Gen3 G19, featuring a printed frame and an aftermarket metallic slide, as per popular 3D printing YouTuber Print Shoot Repeat. Many plans for 3D-printed firearms focus solely on the nylon fiber frame and still require the upper mechanical components to function properly.

According to the criminal complaint, police recovered the polymer pistol equipped with a metal slide and threaded barrel from Mangione’s backpack. These parts can be easily obtained online for a few hundred dollars.

Advocates for gun rights defend the practice of creating firearms using 3D printing as a continuation of a long-standing American custom among gun owners.

Taylor Rhodes, a representative of the National Association for Gun Rights, labeled the creation of homemade guns as “a treasured tradition among those who possess firearms.”

“Efforts to regulate or prohibit homemade firearms represent just the beginning of a broader agenda aimed at undermining our rights,” Rhodes declared in a statement. “Proposals such as banning online sales of gun components and mandating serialization of every part serve as thinly disguised efforts to hinder lawful gun ownership and encroach on our liberties.”

It remains uncertain whether Mangione personally printed or assembled the firearm or if he acquired it from another source.

According to federal regulations, only licensed firearm dealers are allowed to sell guns and gun parts that have a serial number.

Ghost Gun Recoveries by ATF Surge by 1,000%

In 2024, the process of printing a gun has vastly evolved from past years when the machinery was prohibitively expensive, and the legality of gun creation was ambiguous. Although some states have enacted bans, effectively stopping this practice is challenging since individuals can still legally purchase the printers and materials necessary to construct firearms.

For example, in 2019, federal officials discovered a 3D-printed AR-15 in the possession of a man prohibited from having firearms due to a domestic incident. He claimed that he didn’t “buy” the gun, but rather “built” it himself.

The rise of this technology has corresponded with a dramatic spike in crimes involving ghost guns, as reported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

In 2017, law enforcement recovered approximately 1,600 ghost guns, but this number soared to over 25,000 by 2022, marking an increase of nearly 1,500%.

Mangione was arrested by Altoona police for carrying a firearm without a license, among other offenses. However, the 3D-printed gun itself was not illegal in Pennsylvania. Only 15 states have established regulations on ghost guns, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, which is a gun control advocacy organization.

Additionally, owning a homemade silencer is banned unless one acquires a tax stamp under the National Firearms Act, which requires the device to be registered with the ATF.

There has been a notable increase in arrests related to 3D-printed guns, according to 3Dprint.com, an industry news source. Arrests tripled from 2020 to 2022, predominantly occurring in the United States.

Some latest incidents involving these firearms include:

• In September, Detroit police discovered numerous 3D-printed gun components and printers while investigating gang-related activities, arresting a 14-year-old on weapon charges.
• A man in Maryland is currently evading arrest after police found 80 firearms, including 3D-printed weapons, at his home during a domestic violence response. The suspect, Jerod Adam Taylor, is prohibited from possessing guns due to previous convictions.
• New York City police detained three individuals, including two minors, in 2023 for 3D printing guns within a daycare facility. Mayor Eric Adams expressed concern over the incident, stating, “An 18-year-old in his room with a 3D printer isn’t making toys; he’s making firearms—this should alarm everyone.”
• A Mississippi man received a 14-year prison sentence last year for modifying semi-automatic guns into machine guns using 3D-printed components.
• In Ohio, a man was sentenced to three years in prison after using a 3D-printed switch with his Glock. Though he claimed self-defense, prosecutors emphasized that possessing the switch was illegal, categorizing it as a machine gun under the National Firearms Act.

3D-Printed Weapons: Grenades, Bombs, and Machine Gun Modifications

In addition to guns and silencers, 3D printers can also produce grenades, bombs, and modifications that turn pistols into machine guns.

In June, federal authorities initiated “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide endeavor aimed at curbing machine gun conversion devices, commonly referred to as switches or auto-sears. Prosecutors indicated these devices can be fabricated within minutes using a typical 3D printer, and they have been involved in shooting incidents across various cities, including Houston, Sacramento, and Washington D.C.

“We’re speaking about a tiny, one-inch piece of plastic. It appears harmless, similar to a LEGO or k’nex part. But this small plastic item contributes to fatalities,” stated Leigha Simonton, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas. “Such conversion devices can transform constitutionally protected firearms into illegal military-grade weapons, enabling petty criminals to become ruthless killers, potentially turning our streets into battlegrounds.”

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, a common 3D printer can manufacture around 100 plastic switches in just 72 hours, and a gun equipped with a switch can fire more rapidly than the standard M-4 machine gun issued to U.S. armed forces.

Reports indicate that fighters in Ukraine have utilized 3D printers to create bombs, as noted by the Economist.

Is Mangione’s Case a Catalyst for Change?

Print Shoot Repeat, a YouTuber who monitored the gun used by the CEO shooter, expresses concerns regarding the broader implications this shooting may have on enthusiasts of 3D-printed guns.

The YouTuber stated, “This might lead to significant changes in gun legislation pertaining to 3D-printed firearms. Could there be attempts to outlaw DIY firearms altogether?”

Pucino from the Giffords Law Center remarked that an incident like the one involving Mangione was predictable, given the absence of comprehensive regulations.

Pucino proposed several strategies the government might consider to control the dissemination of 3D-printed guns. For instance, individuals creating firearms should be required to have a license; printers could be programmed to detect gun part production and respond accordingly; or the government might regulate the software code used for gun printing.

However, he fears such measures would merely be a temporary fix.

“The genie has escaped the bottle,” he stated.