Description: By back-tracing crime-scene weapons, U.S. investigators have long been able to break ground on significant criminal cases. This often involves close examination of bullet trajectories, firearm identification numbers, and diving into a vast network of data such as gun store records, manufacturer coding, and criminal directories.
However, this investigative approach is quickly becoming outdated, thanks to the rise of difficult-to-track 3D-printed guns and silencers, like those found in the possession of alleged criminal Luigi Mangione earlier this week. As 3D printers become more accessible, with some models being sold on Amazon for less than $300, specialists are wary of a potential increase in illegal activity.
So-called ‘phantom firearms’ and muzzlers seized from the defendant’s bag in Pennsylvania were believed to have been fabricated with a 3D printer and readily-available metal parts, according to Altoona Police Department reports. Giffords Law Center’s legal director, David Pucino, expressed his concern, stating it was just a matter of time before such a weapon was involved in a notorious shooting.
Mangione’s self-assembled weapon has been linked to bullet shell casings found at Brian Thompson’s murder site. Once deemed as curiosities, these 3D printed guns have morphed into untraceable tools of terror, with arrests related to them showing a threefold spike. With improving printer quality and falling prices, this trend isn’t slowing down. Many fear it could steer the United States into a modern era resembling the lawless Wild West: swamped with hidden, unregistered firearms.
Present regulations surrounding these “phantom guns” are scattered, differing from state to state, though President Biden has committed to tackling this issue. In September, he formed a task force to assess and combat the possible risks from these 3D-printed weapons.
Long-serving professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Felipe Rodriguez, describes the predicament as “the most frightening thing I’ve ever encountered.” He believes that the issue of unregulated guns might escalate due to advancements in 3D printing technology.
Rodriguez also stresses that home manufacturing of guns eliminates current tracking procedures, typically involving tracing back to the initial suppliers or manufacturers.
Moreover, even the U.S. Military has manufactured its 3D-printed grenade launcher, codenamed the Rambo, which successfully fired a 3D-printed grenade in 2017.
Mangione’s type of weapon is relatively affordable and simple to create. These can range from firearms to semi-automatic weapon conversion switches, grenades, and even bombs, all accessible with ample know-how and resources.
While gun rights supporters see this as a part of the longstanding American tradition of homemade weaponry, others are apprehensive about heralding an unforeseen crime wave resulting from untraceable, easy-to-create arms.
The question remains whether Mangione assembled the phantom gun or obtained it elsewhere; the fact is that 3D printers and materials needed to print a functioning firearm are legally available – posing a significant challenge to curb the growing circulation of homemade weapons.
For instance, in 2019, authorities seized a 3D-printed AR-15 from a man legally banned from owning firearms due to a previous domestic dispute. He defended possessing the arm by stating it was “constructed” rather than “purchased.”
Although efforts have been made to control the use of 3D-printed weapons, it continues to be an uphill task. At present, only 15 states have regulations surrounding “phantom guns,” as per gun control advocate, Everytown for Gun Safety.
Furthermore, while 3D-printed guns may continue to be legal in certain areas, possession of a homemade silencer typically violates the National Firearms Act without legitimate tax stamps and ATF registration.
Recent years have seen a noticeable surge in arrests related to 3D-printed guns, as reported by industry outlet 3Dprint.com, with these weapons involved in a range of offenses and the figures continuing to climb.
These printers can potentially produce a variety of arms including grenades, bombs, and devices that can convert guns to automatic.
Rodriguez’s worry over the spread of these elusive weapons is shared by Pucino. The latter proposes potential solutions such as licensing 3D-printed guns and regulating the printers being used to print these firearms.
However, Pucino fears these might only serve as temporary solutions to a problem he describes as having “unleashed the genie from the lamp.”