Unregulated 3D-printed firearms, dubbed 'ghost guns', are experiencing a rise in usage, leaving law enforcement agencies strained to maintain control

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the production and seizure of ghost guns, a term used to describe firearms that are difficult to trace due to their 3D-printed components. This trend has raised concerns worldwide, leading to legislative actions and arrests.

In the United States, the number of suspected ghost guns traced increased dramatically from 8,504 in 2020 to 19,273 in 2021. This surge in ghost guns is not limited to the US, as other countries such as Canada, the UK, and Japan have also taken steps to regulate these weapons.

Canada effectively banned ghost guns in 2023, making it illegal to possess or manufacture them without a license from the government. In the UK, the government updated its laws in November 2022 to specifically ban possessing, buying, or producing parts for 3D-printed guns. In Japan, producing 3D-printed firearms is already illegal, and in 2014, a 28-year-old Japanese man was sentenced to two years in prison for producing plastic 3D-printed firearms.

The US is a particular hotspot for ghost gun-related arrests, accounting for 36% of total global arrests related to 3D-printed firearms in 2023. U.S. law enforcement agencies seized and reported nearly 38,000 suspected ghost guns between 2017 and 2021.

In New Jersey and New York, ghost guns must have a serial number and be registered. However, in New York, possession or distribution of a 3D-printed gun is classified as a misdemeanor. A proposed law seeks to elevate the manufacturing of firearms using 3D-printing technology to a felony offense in New York.

It's important to note that while the First Amendment protects freedom of expression, which includes sharing digital files that could contain firearm designs, these files can still lead to the production of illegal weapons.

Criminals have used 3D printers to produce "Glock switches" or auto-sears, which convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns, making them illegal. This trend has also been observed in Europe and Australia, where there have been at least nine documented cases of extremists, terrorists, or paramilitary groups either producing or attempting to produce firearms using 3D-printing technology.

By November 2024, 15 U.S. states had established regulations on ghost guns, and the number of seized 3D-printed guns in New York state alone surged dramatically, from 100 in 2019 to 637 in 2022. Arrests linked to 3D-printed guns are also rising, with 108 arrests in the first half of 2023 compared to 66 arrests in all 2022.

Concerns and legislative actions about 3D-printed firearms have been noted in countries like Austria, where the government is tightening weapons laws to address this issue. However, as of June 2023, there are no specific publicly available data that identify which countries have recorded the most arrests related to 3D-printed guns.

In conclusion, the rise of ghost guns poses a significant challenge to law enforcement agencies worldwide. As technology advances, it is crucial for governments to adapt their laws and regulations to ensure public safety.