Lawmakers in various states are introducing restrictions on 3D-printed firearms as part of ongoing discussions regarding ghost guns. These firearms, which lack serial numbers and can be produced using 3D printers, have prompted concerns from Second Amendment advocates who argue that such restrictions infringe on their constitutional rights. Currently, at least 16 states have enacted laws concerning 3D-printed guns, with seven states implementing significant legislation in 2026.
States including Colorado, New Jersey, Maine, New York, Virginia, and Washington have enacted various measures targeting firearms manufactured without serial numbers. In California, legislators advanced a bill requiring 3D printer manufacturers to incorporate technology that prevents the printing of firearms. New York's recent budget includes a law that will take effect by mid-June, which aims to restrict the production of 3D-printed guns.
Maine's legislature passed a bill in January mandating serial numbers on all firearms, including those produced through 3D printing. Former New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill requiring residents to possess a firearms license to access blueprints for 3D-printed firearms.
In March, Colorado and Virginia enacted similar laws, while Washington's law restricts the possession of serial-free weapons and regulates the digital blueprints used for manufacturing 3D guns. A legislative package in Minnesota proposing a range of restrictions did not pass.
The push for these restrictions coincides with an increase in the recovery of 3D-printed guns at crime scenes, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reporting over 27,000 such guns recovered in January 2023, compared to approximately 1,600 in January 2017. Proponents of stricter gun laws argue that the proliferation of 3D-printed weapons raises the risk of gun violence in communities. However, some individuals contend that restrictions violate Second Amendment rights and do not effectively enhance public safety.
Several states facing these restrictions are encountering constitutional challenges. In February, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in favor of New Jersey in a case against Defense Distributed, a Texas-based company that designs 3D-gun blueprints. The court upheld a lower court's decision that ordered Defense Distributed to cease distributing gun-printing blueprints to unlicensed individuals. The company's legal team plans to appeal the ruling and may petition the Supreme Court if necessary.