Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced the 3D Printed Gun Safety Act, federal legislation that would ban online distribution of blueprints for the 3D printing of firearms and help prevent the proliferation of “ghost guns.” Gillibrand announced the legislation at a press conference where she was joined by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal; State Senator Brian Kavanagh; Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal; Sam Levy, Senior Counsel for Everytown for Gun Safety; Paul DiGiacomo, President of the Detectives’ Endowment Association; Mary Hernandez, CEO and Founder of Angellyh Yambo Foundation; and other gun safety advocates.
Ghost guns are homemade firearms that have no serial number, making them untraceable and extremely difficult to regulate. The components are often purchased in “ghost gun kits” or even 3D printed using instructions found on the internet. Individuals have the ability to go online and obtain these blueprints and instruction manuals without a background check and can print out firearms with just the click of a mouse. And because many of the 3D printed guns are made of plastic, they can bypass metal detectors commonly used at courthouses, airports, and other secured public areas.
In the past year, there has been a 75% increase in ghost gun seizures according to the NYPD. And since the start of 2022, 20 of these guns were found at the scenes of shootings or homicides across Manhattan.
“With the increase in ghost gun seizures in NYC, we need to do more at the federal level to stop 3D printed guns from ever being created in the first place,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The 3D Printed Gun Safety Act is federal legislation that would ban the online distribution of blueprints for 3D printing of firearms. Those who shouldn’t have a gun also shouldn’t be able to print one with just the click of a mouse. By cracking down on the blueprints as well as the guns themselves, we can limit the availability of ghost guns and make it more difficult for dangerous individuals to get their hands on them.”
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said: “I’m proud to support Senator Gillibrand’s much-needed federal action on untraceable guns through her new bill, the 3D Printed Gun Safety Act. Her legislation is an important and necessary complement to our state bill (S7364) that makes the manufacturing of 3D-printed guns and ghost guns illegal that I drafted with Assembly Member Rosenthal in consultation with Manhattan DA Bragg.”
“The scourge of gun violence in the United States continues unabated, with a mass shooting occurring on an almost daily basis. Our laws must keep pace as gun-manufacturing technology becomes ever more sophisticated, and that is why Senator Gillibrand’s 3D Printed Gun Safety Act is so vital. By banning the distribution of instructions or code that programs 3D printers, we can counter the proliferation of ghost guns, which are unserialized and untraceable. I applaud Senator Gillibrand’s efforts to attack this growing problem head on,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WFP — Manhattan), Chair of the Committee on Housing and sponsor of a bill in the state Legislature banning the manufacture of ghost guns.
“The rapid proliferation of 3D-printed guns poses a major threat to the safety of Manhattanites – anyone can now manufacture dangerous and deadly weapons right in their own home and apartment. One key reason it is so easy to print 3D guns is that detailed blueprints can be shared with just a few clicks over the internet, and I thank Senator Gillibrand for her leadership on this issue at the federal level. Earlier this year, my Office announced similar legislation that would make it illegal to share these digital files in New York, which I urge the legislature to make a priority when it returns to Albany next year,” said D.A. Bragg.
“The 3D Printed Gun Safety Act is a very important step towards blocking the assembly of a ghost gun online. Ghost guns can be built in minutes with instructions easily available, giving criminals access to build illegal firearms. We need to close these loopholes and make it difficult for these individuals to use these weapons to kill innocent people. This is an important step in keeping our communities safe,” said Mary Hernandez-CEO & Founder Angellyh Yambo Foundation.
“We support the 3D Printed Gun Safety Act, this legislation will prohibit the online distribution of blueprints and instructions that allow for three-dimensional (3D) printing of firearms. Ghost guns are made from components bought online with parts made from 3D — they are increasingly becoming the lethal weapon of choice by offender,” said Alexandra Maruri-Consultant Angellyh Yambo Foundation.
The 3D Printed Gun Safety Act was originally introduced by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).