JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — New York Governor Hochul is pushing for new laws to combat the rising threat of 3D-printed “ghost guns,” firearms that can be assembled without serial numbers or background checks. The proposals, unveiled earlier this week as part of her State of the State address, aim to crack down on both the manufacturing and distribution of these untraceable weapons.
Ghost Guns: A Growing Problem for Law Enforcement
Untraceable firearms built from parts are increasingly turning up at crime scenes across New York State.
- Governor Hochul proposes criminal penalties for selling or possessing instructions to build ghost guns.
- A database will be created to track seized ghost guns.
- Manufacturers may be required to design firearms that cannot be easily converted into illegal weapons.
- Possessing a ghost gun could lead to up to 25 years in prison.
What are ghost guns and why are they a concern? Ghost guns are firearms that are assembled from kits or 3D-printed parts, lacking the serial numbers required for legal firearms. This makes them virtually untraceable, posing a significant challenge to law enforcement.
Johnson City Police Chief Brent Dodge says his department has seen a dramatic shift in the types of guns they’re recovering. “A number of years ago, they didn’t exist, and we never saw them. Every gun was manufactured by an actual gun manufacturer and serial numbered and registered to somebody somewhere,” Chief Dodge explained. “Now, a significant percentage of the guns we’re seizing are ghost guns that have no ability to be traced.”
The governor’s plan includes making it a crime to intentionally sell, distribute, or possess instructions for illegally manufacturing these firearms without a license. A key component is the creation of a database to track ghost guns seized by law enforcement agencies across the state. Broome County District Attorney Paul Battisti believes these measures are long overdue.
Battisti also supports requiring firearm manufacturers to design their products in a way that prevents easy modification into fully automatic weapons. “If there is a mandate on manufacturers that 3D printers sold in New York cannot contain the ability to manufacture these, think about it,” he stated. “We’re not going to have them manufactured here in New York any longer. That’s something that should have happened a long time ago; I guess better late than never. That is definitely, definitely going to be beneficial.”
Currently, those found in possession of a ghost gun could face charges of criminal possession of a weapon, potentially carrying a sentence of up to 25 years in state prison. The proposed legislation would also increase liability for manufacturers of firearms and 3D printers that do not comply with the new state guidelines.
