The 3D Printed Gun: An Increasing Threat?

In March 2024, the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) published “The Emergence of 3D-printed Firearms: An Analysis of Media and Law Enforcement Reports.” The report gathered data on 186 cases involving 3D printed firearms and parts, 92% of which took place in either North America, Europe, or Oceania. Their most striking finding? A significant, sharp increase in reported cases since 2021. The discovery of this increase is corroborated by the growing number of headlines on 3D printed guns.

Just this October, in one high-profile case a man in Indiana was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for 3D printing ghost guns (untraceable guns without a serial number) and “Glock switches” (parts that convert a semi-automatic pistol into a machine gun). Unfortunately, this instance is more than an isolated incident. The proliferation of 3D printed firearms has become a global phenomenon, and government bodies in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe, among others, have begun addressing the problem.

So, how did the story of 3D printed guns begin? What 3D printing technologies are used? Is the threat of 3D printed guns growing? What will this issue look like in the future?