3D-printed firearms, often referred to as “ghost guns” due to their untraceable nature, are rapidly emerging as a significant concern for law enforcement and gun control advocates worldwide. These illicit weapons are constructed using a 3D printer, readily available downloadable blueprints, and basic materials, making them incredibly difficult to regulate and track.
The technology underpinning these weapons has seen substantial advancements over the past decade, with contemporary models boasting the capability to discharge multiple rounds without the plastic components succumbing to wear or breakage. This alarming progression has led experts to warn that 3D-printed guns could soon become the “weapon of choice” for criminals and violent extremists globally. Nick Suplina, representing Everytown, a prominent U.S.-based gun control organization, articulated this growing threat, stating, “The materials have gotten better, the cost has gone down, and the ease of access of these blueprints is at a high.” His concern underscores the escalating accessibility and efficacy of these DIY firearms.
The implications of this accessibility are already being felt, with 3D-printed guns reportedly recovered in various criminal cases, including the alleged involvement of a partially 3D-printed gun in the tragic killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A recent investigation by BBC Trending delved into the global proliferation of 3D-printed guns across major social media platforms, including Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram, alongside websites actively providing comprehensive “how-to” guides.
This investigation was prompted by earlier findings in October 2024, when the Tech Transparency Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to monitoring technology companies, identified hundreds of gun advertisements—encompassing both 3D-printed and other ghost guns—circulating on Meta’s platforms. These advertisements were a direct violation of Meta’s established policies. Despite these findings, Meta initially declined to comment. Several months later, BBC Trending discovered that similar gun advertisements remained active within Meta’s ad database, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of their enforcement mechanisms.
A significant number of these illicit gun advertisements strategically directed potential buyers to private channels on Telegram or WhatsApp. Within these Telegram channels, BBC Trending uncovered a diverse array of firearms for sale, with some explicitly appearing to be 3D-printed. One particular Telegram account, boasting over 1,000 subscribers, audaciously claimed to offer global shipping of weapons. BBC Trending directly engaged with this account, operating under the moniker “Jessy,” to ascertain its willingness to illegally ship 3D-printed guns to the United Kingdom.
Within an hour of contact, Jessy readily offered either a “Liberator” or a “Glock switch.” The Liberator, conceptualized by “crypto-anarchist” Cody Wilson in 2013, holds the distinction of being the world’s first widely available 3D-printed gun, designed to fire a single shot. A Glock switch, also known as an auto sear, is a compact, sometimes 3D-printed component capable of converting a standard pistol into a fully automatic weapon. Jessy assured the BBC that he could successfully smuggle the weapon through UK customs and demanded a payment of £160 in bitcoin, later suggesting a bank transfer to an untraceable UK account.
When BBC Trending subsequently identified itself as a journalistic entity, Jessy acknowledged the illegality of selling weapons in the UK but remained unapologetic, stating, “I run my business, sell some straps [slang for weapons] online.” While the BBC did not proceed with the transaction, Jessy’s casual demeanor, though potentially indicative of a scammer, highlighted critical loopholes that legitimate illicit gun dealers could exploit on platforms like Meta and Telegram.
In response to the BBC’s inquiries, Meta stated that the highlighted advertisements had been “automatically disabled in line with our policies” and clarified that their inclusion in the ad library “doesn’t necessarily mean the ad is still live or visible.” Telegram, similarly, confirmed that Jessy’s account had been proactively removed for breaching its policies. A spokesperson for Telegram further elaborated, “The sale of weapons is explicitly forbidden by Telegram’s terms of service and is removed whenever discovered. Moderators empowered with custom AI and machine learning tools proactively monitor public parts of the platform and accept reports in order to remove millions of pieces of harmful content each day, including the sale of weapons.”
However, a more concerning aspect of the 3D-printed gun phenomenon is that individuals seeking these weapons are not solely reliant on purchasing ready-made versions through social media. They possess the capability to assemble their own. Models such as the FGC-9 are specifically designed using only 3D-printed plastic and repurposed metal components, eliminating the need for any commercially available gun parts. Dr. Rajan Basra, a researcher at King’s College London, commented on this, stating, “You are essentially becoming a DIY gunsmith,” though he cautioned, “It’s not as easy as printing off a sheet of A4 paper in your office printer.”
As previously reported by the BBC, numerous websites are openly offering free, step-by-step guides and downloadable blueprints for constructing 3D-printed guns. One such guide was authored by Matthew Larosiere, a gun rights attorney based in Florida. Larosiere is known to be associated with the global pro-3D-printed gun community, many members of whom, particularly in the USA, interpret the Second Amendment right to bear arms as an inherent human right.
When challenged by BBC Trending about his role in disseminating information that facilitates the creation of lethal weapons, Larosiere responded, “It’s just information. It’s ones and zeros. The fact that the information has a use case that makes you uncomfortable, I understand and I sympathise with that, but that doesn’t make it correct to say it’s anything more than information.” When confronted with the potential risk of this “information” being exploited in mass shootings, he remarked, “I thank God that has not happened,” and cited Myanmar as a country where, in his view, 3D-printed guns have served a positive cause.
Myanmar represents the only currently known instance of 3D-printed guns being utilized in an active military conflict. The FGC-9, in particular, has been widely reported as being employed by resistance fighters against the ruling junta. However, as BBC Burmese’s Hnin Mo discovered, many of these resistance groups have since ceased using 3D-printed guns. This shift occurred despite these forces having produced hundreds of FGC-9s in 2022 and 2023, with each costing over ten times less than black market machine guns.
Rebel leaders interviewed by Hnin Mo attributed this change to the junta’s stringent control over the import of essential materials like glue and metal, alongside the increasing availability of more conventional weapons such as RPGs and machine guns at their disposal. The Myanmar case, therefore, highlights the current limitations of 3D-printed guns for sustained military use. Nevertheless, the global spread of these weapons is undeniable.
In response to this escalating threat, several countries are actively considering legislation to criminalize the possession of 3D-printed gun blueprints. There are also growing calls for 3D printer manufacturers to implement mechanisms that would prevent the printing of gun parts, drawing parallels to how conventional printers restrict the reproduction of currency. However, the efficacy of such preventative measures in curbing the proliferation of 3D-printed firearms remains a significant question.
