Law enforcement has a tough job investigating crime scenes and striving to curb crime. At the same time, the nation struggles with the rise in mass shootings that seems to occur on a regular basis. Certainly, factors underlying both crime and mass shootings are numerous, and a single cause or solution cannot be defined. However, unauthorized access to guns and weapons has been an intense area of debate in this regard. While states and federal laws are in place for surveillance and monitoring, these regulations are quickly becoming obsolete. That’s because 3D-printed firearms, often referred to as ghost guns since they lack serial numbers, are on the rise. And it’s this increase in ghost guns that is presenting new challenges for society.
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For roughly a decade, additive manufacturing has made its way into the firearms sector. Kits and plans that aid any individual in making 3D-printed firearms are readily available today. And believe it or not, building your own firearm isn’t against any law. Of course, it’s not as easy as simply pushing a button and have a functioning weapon appear. But the process no longer requires the advanced skills it once did, which is why states and governments are scrabbling for solutions. The repercussions of this increase in ghost guns extends beyond national crime rates and mass shootings. It also relates to the potential for terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. For this reason, it’s essential that remedies to the evolving situation be considered.
Modern-Day 3D-Printed Firearms
When it comes to additive manufacturing, it’s not possible to completely create 3D-printed firearms. However, it is possible to produce the receiver or frame of a firearm using this technology. Numerous kits exist to guide anyone in how this can be accomplished. And from there, the metallic components like springs, bolts, and barrels can be bought and added. The change is that it used to required advanced tools and skills to create firearm receivers. But that’s no longer the case. And the receivers created by home firearm makers aren’t required to have a serial number. This is why there has been such an increase in ghost guns in the last decade. And this not only pertains to guns and rifles but automatic weapons as well.
It’s worth noting that there are some groups that have helped advance this increase in ghost guns. For example, one of the best-known groups is Deterrence Dispersed. This group began releasing kits and plans on the FGC-9 gun in 2020, one of the most popular 3D-printed firearms today. Plans are also available for AR-15 rifles. And there are other 3D-printed devices called switches that can turn a pistol into an automatic weapon. At the same time, the increase in homemade firearms has led to enhanced creativity in design. New modifications are being tried, and problem-shooting can be handled via chats and social media discussions. Understandably, this is a rapidly moving area of firearms manufacturing. At present, regulatory oversight is far from thorough.
Legal Loopholes and Challenges
Notably, the increases in ghost guns have resulted in part from the legal loopholes that exist with current additive manufacturing opportunities. The Gun Control Act of 1968 required all firearm receivers to have serial numbers. But this requirement doesn’t pertain to homemade guns and rifles. This wasn’t initially required because of the advanced skill levels require to make a gun. Of course, that has now changed, but the laws have not. Many recognized this early on, which is why ghost gun parts have been available online since 2014. This has resulted in a steep rise in 3D-printed firearms in recent years. In 2021, over 20,000 crimes involved the use of 3D-printed firearms without a serial number. This reflects a ten-fold rise in occurrence within a five-year period.
Legislative efforts have been pursued recently to address the increases in ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms. A Congressional bill that would have expanded requirements for licensing and serial numbers was never passed. A new executive order and rule was established in 2022 that did require that these gun receivers have serial numbers. But a formal Supreme Court ruling as to the constitutionality of this rule has yet to be performed. Given the United States’ unique constitutional protections to bear arms, such a rule may not stand. This is not the case in foreign countries where such permissions aren’t allowed. For example, even possessing a manual on how to build 3D-printed firearms is considered a terrorist offense.
A Pressing Need for a Solution
In an effort to catch up to changing technologies, legislative efforts are being made at state and federal levels. But there’s little guarantee that these changes will be adopted and approved or even adequate. Notably, failure to come up with a more effective solution to increases in ghost guns could make solving crimes more challenging. It could also result in opportunities for a further rise in mass shootings. More importantly, however, these same strategies used for 3D-printed firearms could also be used to create weapons of mass destruction. Thus, its essential that more effective approaches be pursued to address this pressing issue. And in all likelihood, federal and state oversight isn’t likely to be enough.
Fortunately, because completed 3D-printed firearms cannot yet be constructed, options do exist. For one, control and monitoring of exports of feedstock materials for these weapons should be advanced. This includes metallic powders as well as other necessary items. Serial number requirements should also be required of key components and even 3D-printed receivers. But the best solutions involve collaborative efforts between industry and governments. A mutually beneficial exchange between the two could curb risks, improve monitoring and surveillance, and better control outcomes. Creative and bold ideas are needed in this regard, and they’re needed sooner rather than later.
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