A New York state senator has re-introduced a bill requiring a criminal background check to purchase 3D printers capable of printing firearms. The goal is to block people who would be disqualified from buying a gun from also purchasing the means to produce one.
The bill comes after law enforcement officials in New York raised the alarm about so-called “ghost guns.” Many of these unmarked and untraceable firearms can be made with certain 3D printers.
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A “ghost gun” likely played a role in a recent high-profile New York crime. Police in New York City said they believe Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, used an unmarked firearm. Authorities think it was at least partially made using a 3D printer.
The bill is a testament to the difficulties that law enforcement and lawmakers advocating for gun control reform have experienced when trying to regulate guns.
Federal judges, most notably the Supreme Court, have taken a broad view of the Second Amendment. They use it to block many gun control laws.
Democratic State Sen. Jenifer Rajkumar, the lead sponsor, did not include a memo explaining the bill. However, after introducing an initial version in 2023, she wrote, in part, “This bill will require a background check so that three-dimensional printed firearms do not get in the wrong hands.”
The bill has sparked backlash from 3D printer owners and enthusiasts, who worry its language is overly broad. They point to the growing number of 3D printers in schools that students can use for educational purposes.
LAUREN TAYLOR: A New York state senator has re-introduced a bill that would require a criminal background check to purchase a 3D printer.
The bill would apply to 3D printers capable of printing firearms, blocking people who would be disqualified from buying a gun from also buying a 3D printer.
The bill comes after law enforcement officials in New York raised the alarm about so-called “ghost guns,” unmarked and untraceable firearms. Many of them can be made with certain 3D printers.
A “ghost gun” likely played a role in a recent, high-profile New York crime. Police in New York City said they believe Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, used an unmarked firearm authorities believe was at least partially made using a 3D printer.
The bill speaks to difficulties law enforcement and lawmakers advocating for gun restrictions have run into when trying to regulate guns.
Federal judges, most notably the Supreme Court, have taken a broad view of the 2nd Amendment, using it to block many gun control laws.
Democratic State Senator Jenifer Rajkumar, the lead sponsor, did not include a memo explaining the bill.
But after introducing the first version of it in 2023, she wrote in part, “This bill will require a background check so that three-dimensional printed firearms do not get in the wrong hands.
The bill has sparked backlash from 3D printer owners and enthusiasts, who worry the bill is overly broad. They point to the growing number of 3D printers in schools that students can use for educational purposes.
For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.
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