Homemade Firearm Parts Made with 3D Printers Seized by ATF

In the summer of 2024, former Army National Guard member Andrew Scott Hastings spent a sweaty afternoon carefully packing boxes with parts he made using his 3D printer. These weren't novelty figurines or replacement Ikea pieces. The boxes were instead filled with a handful of homemade firearm lower receivers and more than 100 "switches," small devices capable of converting a semiautomatic gun into a fully automatic weapon.

Their intended recipients, federal prosecutors allege, were al-Qaida operatives. Months later ATF agents busted two men in Colorado Springs for allegedly using 3D printers to churn out hundreds of illegal machine gun conversion devices. The cases highlight a growing concern among law enforcement agencies: the ease with which individuals can use 3D printing technology to manufacture unserialized, untraceable firearms and firearm parts, often referred to as "ghost guns." The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been monitoring the situation closely.

"The use of 3D printing technology to produce firearm parts, particularly those that can convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic ones, poses a significant threat to public safety," said an ATF spokesperson. ATF agents have been working to track down and seize these homemade firearm parts, often made with 3D printers, as part of a broader effort to curb their spread. Why this matters: The proliferation of 3D-printed firearm parts raises serious concerns about public safety and the ability of law enforcement to track and regulate these devices.

As 3D printing technology becomes increasingly accessible and affordable, it will be up to regulators, lawmakers, and the private sector to develop and implement effective solutions to prevent the misuse of this technology. Developers and businesses will need to consider the implications of their work and take steps to prevent the creation of unserialized firearms and firearm parts. Consumers, meanwhile, will need to be aware of the potential risks associated with 3D-printed firearm parts and the potential consequences of possessing or using them.

One open question is how courts will interpret existing firearms laws in the context of 3D-printed firearm parts – and what new laws or regulations may be needed to address this emerging issue.