
3D printed handgun that was being actively printed at the time the search warrant was executed in Nova Scotia, Canada. Image courtesy of Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The public debate regarding 3D printed weapons has taken a potentially pernicious turn, as New York State considers a bill regulating the sale of 3D printers, rather than guns themselves. State Assemblyperson Jenifer Rajkumar recently introduced legislation that would prevent allows individuals, including convicted felons, to circumvent gun ownership restrictions by 3D printing “ghost guns.”
The proposed law, designated as AB A8132, stipulates that anyone wishing to buy a 3D printer capable of crafting a firearm must submit to a criminal history background check. The legislation would further restrict the sale of such printers to anyone disqualified from firearm ownership due to a criminal…