On 26 September 2024, the US government under President Joe Biden issued a new regulation aimed at combating the increasing proliferation of 3D-printed weapons and machine gun conversion devices (MCDs). The measure is intended to increase security at schools and strengthen law enforcement.
3D-printed weapons pose a growing problem for authorities. They are untraceable and can be manufactured at home using freely available 3D model files. MCDs, small components for converting semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic ones, can be printed for around 40 cents.
The new regulation provides for the establishment of a special task force. It is to submit recommendations within 90 days on how to better combat these threats. The panel builds on the work of the ATF Emerging Threats Centre, which already monitors illegal arms markets and new technologies.
According to the White House, the number of MCDs recovered at crime scenes has increased by 570% in the last five years. A recent case in Alabama, in which four people were killed by a modified weapon, emphasises the urgency of the problem.
The ANTI-MCD Task Force of the Department of Justice and the ATF aims to stop the illegal production and sale of MCDs. It tracks online sellers and educates the 3D printing community about the dangers.
The measures are part of a broader strategy to reduce gun violence. The White House points to a 17% drop in the homicide rate in the first half of 2024, but more far-reaching plans such as a ban on assault rifles and universal background checks require congressional approval.
The authorities emphasise that 3D-printed guns and MCDs are mainly used by criminals. The new regulation is intended to give law enforcement agencies more tools to combat these threats and increase public safety at the same time.
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