Manhattan DA targets 3D-Printed ghost guns in manufacturer warning

Alona Yadav | Mar 28, 2025, 00:23 IST

( Image credit : AP )

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has warned 3D-printing companies, particularly Creality 3D, about the rise in ghost guns created with their technology. The Supreme Court upheld federal restrictions on these weapons, but issues remain, with a significant increase in ghost gun seizures and serious incidents involving 3D-printed firearms.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has issued a stark warning to 3D-printing companies, specifically targeting Creality 3D Technology Co., about the proliferation of ghost guns being manufactured using their technology.

The letter comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that upheld federal restrictions on ghost guns, and highlights a dramatic surge in unregulated weapon production. NYPD statistics reveal a shocking increase in ghost gun seizures, from just 17 in 2018 to 438 in 2024.

Bragg's communication points to several alarming incidents:

A murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson allegedly committed using a 3D-printed ghost gun
An individual manufacturing an arsenal of weapons in his apartment
Widespread use of Creality printers, particularly the Ender 3 series, in creating illegal firearms

The district attorney emphasized the critical concern that these weapons are being assembled by felons and minors who can easily access online instructions through platforms like Creality Cloud.

"It is paramount that you work to remove weaponry from your company's cloud services," Bragg wrote, calling for explicit bans on illicit weapon creation in user agreements.

While the letter does not threaten prosecution, it requests a meeting with the company and demands immediate action to prevent the spread of unregulated firearms.

The communication underscores a growing national challenge of controlling 3D-printed weapons, balancing technological innovation with public safety concerns.