Lawmakers in various states are enacting restrictions on 3D-printed firearms as part of ongoing discussions regarding the Second Amendment and ghost guns. At least 16 states have established laws concerning 3D-printed guns, with seven states introducing significant legislation in 2026. States such as Colorado, New Jersey, Maine, New York, Virginia, and Washington have implemented various measures to regulate firearms manufactured without serial numbers. California has advanced legislation requiring 3D printer manufacturers to include technology that prevents the printing of firearms.
In New York, a new law will take effect by mid-June, requiring technology in printers to block the production of 3D guns. Maine's legislature passed a bill mandating serial numbers on all firearms, including those made with 3D printers. New Jersey's former governor signed a bill requiring residents to possess a firearms license to access blueprints for 3D firearms.
Colorado and Virginia have passed similar laws, while Washington state has restricted the possession of serial-free weapons and imposed regulations on digital blueprints for 3D guns. A legislative package in Minnesota aimed at imposing restrictions did not pass.
The push for these restrictions coincides with a rise in the recovery of 3D-printed guns at crime scenes, with data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives indicating over 27,000 such guns were recovered in January 2023, compared to just over 1,600 in January 2017. Proponents of stricter gun laws argue that the accessibility of 3D-printed weapons increases the risk of shootings, while opponents claim that such restrictions infringe on Second Amendment rights and do not effectively enhance public safety.
Several states with these restrictions are facing constitutional challenges. In February, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals supported New Jersey's case against Defense Distributed, a Texas-based company, regarding the distribution of gun-printing blueprints. The court upheld a lower court's ruling that ordered Defense Distributed to cease distribution to unlicensed individuals, with the company planning to appeal.