There’s an ongoing debate surrounding ghost guns, and more states are stepping in to regulate 3D-printed firearms. A bipartisan push in various states aims to limit both the possession and manufacture of these weapons, which lack serial numbers and are often created with 3D printers. However, advocates for gun rights argue that these regulations infringe on the constitutional right to bear arms.
Currently, at least 16 states have laws addressing 3D-printed firearms, with seven of them implementing significant legislation just this year.
In 2026, states like Colorado, New Jersey, Maine, New York, Virginia, and Washington enacted different restrictions concerning firearms made without serial numbers. California went a step further, tightening its already stringent regulations by mandating that 3D printer manufacturers install technology to prevent the printing of gun components.
In New York, a similar bill was included in the state budget, expected to take effect by mid-June. Alvin Bragg, the Democratic District Attorney of Manhattan, drew an analogy between this law and regulations against commercial printing of U.S. currency.
Bragg stated, “We’re going to introduce technology that won’t turn machines into 3D guns, just like we don’t have commercial printers to print American money.”
In January, Maine’s legislature passed a bill requiring all firearms, including 3D-printed ones, to have serial numbers. Former New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a law mandating that state residents must have a firearms license to access blueprints for 3D firearm printing.
Colorado and Virginia have also implemented similar laws governing weapons lacking serial numbers, while Washington’s new law restricts both the ownership of unmarked firearms and the tools and designs used to create them. A bill aimed at proposing more extensive restrictions in Minnesota failed in the state House.
This movement toward regulation correlates with a rising trend of 3D-printed guns found at crime scenes. Data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) indicates that over 27,000 of these ghost guns were recovered in January 2023, a notable increase from just over 1,600 in January 2017.
Proponents of stricter gun laws argue that the proliferation of 3D-printed firearms is raising the risk of mass shootings. They highlight that as the technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, it’s easier for young people to create firearms without the awareness of adults. This concern extends to schools that are acquiring 3D printers and instructing students on their use.
Conversely, some believe that such restrictions infringe upon Second Amendment rights and only marginally influence public safety. A representative from the Second Amendment Foundation remarked, “It’s not about guns; it’s about the individuals who commit crimes.”
Several states with these regulations are now facing constitutional challenges. In February, a panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit supported constitutional claims in a lawsuit against a Texas-based company that produces 3D gun blueprints.
This court upheld a lower court’s ruling that prohibited the company, Defense Distributed, from distributing firearm printing plans to unlicensed individuals. The company’s legal team intends to seek another review of the case or, if unsuccessful, appeal to the Supreme Court.
