A man in his thirties, known only by his online alias, recognized the weapon confiscated from the individual suspected of murdering the UnitedHealth CEO earlier this month.

As images of the faux New Jersey driver’s license and the 3D-printed firearm discovered with Luigi Mangione spread across the internet, he immediately noted the distinctive stippling on the grip of the gun.

“It’s mine lol,” he jokingly posted on X on December 9, before swiftly deleting the remark.

The shocking murder of Brian Thompson spotlighted not just “ghost guns,” which lack serial numbers, but also highlighted the rising prevalence of 3D-printed firearms. These guns are created by individuals who download blueprints and input them into machines that layer plastic to manufacture various parts.

Designers like Chairmanwon are responsible for crafting and improving these files so that the guns work effectively and are comfortable for users.

Chairmanwon agreed to speak with YSL News on the condition of anonymity to avoid attracting attention from online vigilantes connected to the shooting.

Although not entirely anonymous, he has appeared in several YouTube videos, wearing black glasses and sporting a red beard. He has also mentioned publicly being in his thirties, moving across the U.S. in search of more accommodating gun laws, and having a background in furniture design.

Upon seeing the gun belonging to Mangione, his initial reaction was astonishment.

“I was surprised it was 3D printed and equally surprised it was such an old model, dating back to 2021,” he stated. “This is America, and that’s not the simplest way to obtain a working firearm.”

He named his design the FMDA 19.2 CMW Stipple, a modified version of the Glock FMDA 19.2, available through the same open-source group—Deterrence Dispensed—that hosts his designs.

Known as DetDisp, this group has also released the FGC-9 model, which has been linked to various criminal activities worldwide. The New York Times identified the leader of DetDisp as a 26-year-old man from Illinois known as Ivan the Troll, earlier this year.

Chairmanwon describes himself as a gun enthusiast who loves visiting shooting ranges and identifies as a pro-gun Democrat. He mentioned he has not been contacted by any law enforcement agencies and doesn’t fear civil liability since he feels disconnected from how his designs are ultimately used.

“I wouldn’t be able to assist. I don’t host the files myself,” he added, explaining that he shares them freely. “I can’t envision how a lawsuit could play out; it seems no different than suing Glock.”

Glock, the prominent Austrian firearms manufacturer, has faced lawsuits over its designs, including recent suits from the City of Chicago and the states of New Jersey and Minnesota. Generally, a federal law enacted in 2005 protects gun makers and sellers from being held liable for crimes involving their products.

“Some people do break state and federal laws. But my stance is: ‘I’m allowed to create and use my own firearm, which is legal and protected,’” Chairmanwon informed YSL News.

Landscape of ghost gun laws emerges

No national regulations currently prohibit the manufacture of 3D-printed or privately crafted firearms.

However, as more police investigations uncover untraceable homemade weapons at crime scenes, several state governments have enacted stricter regulations. The state where Chairmanwon currently resides does not impose these limitations.

If authorities can demonstrate that Mangione downloaded and printed his firearm while in Pennsylvania or New York, he might encounter additional firearm charges.

Currently, fifteen states have mandated serial numbers for homemade firearm parts or have banned the 3D printing of such components entirely. Some states have even prohibited the sharing of 3D printing blueprints.

In 2022, President Biden and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives established new regulations declaring ghost gun parts kits as “firearms” that ought to be subject to the Gun Control Act.

Gun manufacturers are contesting these regulations in the Supreme Court. In October, the court heard arguments, with justices appearing inclined to uphold the regulations.

Civil liability for ghost guns still being tested in court

Lawyers advocating for increased accountability for the unregulated realm of homemade firearm designs include the New York-based firm Bloch & White.

They are pursuing legal action against JSD Supply, an online retailer based in Michigan that sold a ghost gun parts kit to 17-year-old Kyle Thueme, who accidentally shot his friend in the eye.

“The challenge with 3D printing is that the end user becomes the manufacturer,” attorney Benjamin White explained.

He noted that the First and Second Amendments protect much of the private creation of firearms and the sharing of instructions online, comparing this situation to whether social media platforms could be held accountable for moderating content on their services.

“Once you start holding platforms accountable, those platforms become wary of potential liability,” he remarked.

“every corner,” stated White.

Chairmanwon mentioned that a significant portion of the 3D-printing community supports Libertarian principles, free speech, and opposition to copyright restrictions. He views himself as a minor player in a larger group of designers who generally operate within legal boundaries. What individuals choose to do with their designs, however, is outside of his concern.

There is historical precedence for regulating instructions or manuals related to hazardous weapons or explosives.

Federal laws prohibit “teaching, demonstrating, or sharing information on how to create or use explosives, destructive devices, or weapons of mass destruction” if the intention is to incite violence.

These regulations were established after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, fueled by concerns that individuals could access “cookbooks” for making bombs. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Joe Biden supported these laws at that time.

A 1997 analysis by the Department of Justice during discussions on this topic noted, “The First Amendment would impose significant limitations on any effort to blanketly ban the sharing of bomb-making information. Generally, the government cannot punish individuals for advocating illegal activity or for distributing truthful, albeit dangerous, information they have obtained legally, except in rare cases.”

End of Anonymity on the Horizon

“For understandable reasons, I’m trying to maintain distance from this situation,” Chairmanwon told YSL News, referring to the use of one of his gun designs in Thompson’s murder. Mangione now faces 11 charges, including first-degree murder and “an act of terrorism.”

“I have far less involvement with the specific design being discussed than is being claimed on Twitter,” he added, regarding his grip design that complemented an existing blueprint.

This attempt to distance himself from the incident is concerning for gun control advocates, who argue that manufacturers, designers, and users share responsibility for gun-related violence.

“3D-printed guns bypass all of our gun safety regulations — they are a perfect tool for criminals looking to evade law enforcement and a significant challenge for those in law enforcement,” said Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety.

“The online platforms where these designs are shared are rife with toxicity, extremism, and a troubling indifference to the harm and loss caused by these firearms. It’s not surprising that these individuals prefer anonymity — it allows them to evade accountability for the destruction they’ve caused.”

Nick Penzenstadler is an investigative reporter for YSL News. Reach out to him at npenz@usatoday.com or connect with him on Twitter @npenzenstadler, or via Signal at (720) 507-5273.