Feds Crack Down on 3D Printers Transforming Guns into Machine Guns

MARTINSBURG, W.V. – In a research laboratory located in the basement of the agency responsible for regulating firearms in the United States, a bustling scene unfolds. Two dozen 3D printers work diligently, converting thermoplastic filament into intricate designs that will ultimately solidify into guns.

At the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Services Center, nestled behind high security fences in the West Virginia hills, staff members download the latest blueprints for firearms and devices known as “auto-sears.” These small attachments modify guns for rapid-fire and are classified as machine guns in their own right.

The evolution of 3D printing technology poses an ongoing challenge for the agency, as hobbyists and criminals are quick to take advantage of its advancements.

Recently, ATF Director Steven Dettelbach, alongside Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, unveiled new initiatives aimed at addressing the growing concern surrounding 3D-printed “machinegun conversion devices” (MCDs). These seemingly innocuous items, which can resemble everyday objects like bottle openers or Lego pieces, have the potential to transform semi-automatic rifles and handguns into weapons capable of illegal automatic fire.

The officers at ATF’s research facility possess a deep understanding of both firearms and 3D printing technologies, including the intricacies of “slicing,” a process necessary for converting digital models into instructions for the printers. Remarkably, within just 39 minutes and for a mere 40 cents in materials, they can produce a plastic component that might fetch hundreds of dollars on the street—one that could also result in a decade-long prison sentence.

“MCDs can transform a street corner into a combat zone, devastating entire communities,” Monaco emphasized. “The rise of these devices necessitates our immediate and sustained attention.”

To take action, Monaco introduced a new committee within the Department of Justice dedicated to crafting strategies targeting these devices. The plan also includes establishing training protocols for law enforcement to help them identify and seize MCDs, alongside a U.S. Attorney-led initiative to prioritize prosecution of cases involving these devices.

Previous enforcement efforts have employed catchy operation names like Operation Flip the Switch and Operation Kill Switch, referring to the Glock “switches” that convert popular handguns into machine guns.

In addition to heightened enforcement efforts, the ATF is seeking collaboration from academia and companies involved in 3D printing, also known as the additive manufacturing sector.

Dettelbach has called upon the industry to assist in combating the illicit use of their technologies.

“We can’t tackle this threat to public safety alone. We need to enhance awareness, educate the public, and collaborate with experts to make substantial strides,” Dettelbach stated.

The illegal devices now account for a significant proportion of firearms seized in trafficking incidents across the country.

Gun safety advocates have welcomed the government’s commitment to address the machine gun conversion device issue. Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety, likened the current efforts to the measures implemented by color printer companies decades ago to combat counterfeit currency.

“This is an extremely serious problem that will only worsen as technology continues to advance, making collaboration between the private sector and law enforcement essential to foster gun safety solutions,” Suplina asserted. “In the age of 3D printing, we must adopt similar safeguards for downloadable guns and accessories.”

While making firearms that discharge one shot at a time is legal, and hobbyists can legally 3D print certain guns, more extensive manufacturing practices are facing legal scrutiny. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments concerning so-called “ghost guns,” which lack serial numbers.

Some cities, including Chicago, have targeted gun manufacturers in lawsuits, compelling them to facilitate safer designs for their firearms, despite the absence of a relationship with the illegal items that infringe upon their trademarks.

ATF’s recent evaluations indicate that thousands of these imported or home-printed conversion devices are currently circulating in the U.S.

During a tour at the ATF testing facility, officials highlighted that illegal devices are often marketed online using coded phrases like “keychains,” “bottle openers,” or “fidget spinners,” although their true purpose is to convert standard firearms into machine guns.

The regulations established in 1934 that banned Thompson submachine guns also include prohibitions against these conversion devices, which fall under the definitional scope of parts intended solely for converting weapons into machine guns.

Officials have pointed to the tragic shooting death of Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire in Pennsylvania as a stark reminder of the lethal consequences these devices can cause. The shooter used a pistol equipped with both an extended magazine and an illegal conversion device.

These dangerous devices have also played a role in mass shootings, such as the 2022 incident in Sacramento that resulted in six fatalities and twelve injuries, and a shooting by a street gang in Fresno, California, in 2019 that claimed four lives and injured six others.

Source: USA Today