According to an assessment released this month by the Rockefeller Institute of Government, law enforcement officials in New York have seen a sharp increase in the recovery of 3D printed guns manufactured using a 3D printer since they were first outlawed in 2019.
According to the analysis, the number of 3D printed firearms recovered increased from 100 in 2019 to 637 last year. The number is still small in comparison to the total number of illegal guns seized by police in New York from other states and linked to crimes.
3D Printed Guns
The sharp rise in printed firearms recoveries highlights how difficult it is to track down hard-to-trace firearms. The guns have no serial numbers and can be manufactured without the necessary background checks.
President Joe Biden’s administration moved this year to enact new rules to control the proliferation of guns made with a 3D printer at the federal level. These regulations went into effect in August.
Federal data also show a national increase in 3D printed firearms recoveries: a 90% increase between 2020 and 2021 and a tenfold increase between 2016 and last year, according to the report.
In total, 11 states and Washington, D.C. have taken steps to limit the spread of guns made with 3D printers.
“While the federal government has taken first steps to regulate these weapons, state and local lawmakers have for several years been exploring and enacting policies designed to monitor and prevent ghost guns from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms”.
According to the report by Rockefeller Institute of Government
New York state officials have attempted to curb the spread of illegal firearms, and Gov. Kathy Hochul has praised the efforts of a regional law enforcement task force to address the issue. Over the last few years, the number of shootings in New York has increased.
Just recently, a man shared how he tricked the system by selling 3D printed firearms to the Attorney General’s office in New York for a whopping $21,000.
