NYPD: 3D2A Movement and Affordable 3D Printers Drive Surge in Ghost Guns

The New York City Police Department warns that a growing online movement called "3D2A," combined with easier access to consumer 3D printers, has driven a sharp rise in unregistered "ghost guns" in the city — a trend officials fear could spread nationwide.

What Are Ghost Guns And Why They Matter

Ghost guns are firearms that lack serial numbers or registration data, often assembled from parts purchased online or produced at home. In recent years, hobbyists and engineers have increasingly used 3D printers to manufacture many components of these weapons. CAD files and assembly plans are widely shared online, and designers sometimes compete to improve models and to evade new laws aimed at limiting homemade firearms.

New Designs And Growing Risks

Among recently circulated designs is a model nicknamed "Not a Glock," which can be modified to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull, effectively enabling automatic fire, according to law enforcement reporting. Some 3D-printed parts and silencers have already been implicated in high-profile crimes; prosecutors allege that a ghost gun fitted with a 3D-printed silencer was used in the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

"We see the speed and tension that's picking up within those communities on the internet and we definitely see this as something that is going to grow into something we're trying to stay ahead of," said Courtney Nilan, the NYPD's lead official on ghost guns.

Trends And Data

Although kit-built ghost guns ordered by mail still make up the majority of untraceable firearms recovered by police, 3D-printed variants are rising rapidly. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, recoveries of 3D-printed guns increased from just over 30 in 2020 to more than 300 in 2024. For context, roughly 19,000 ghost guns of all types were recovered nationwide in 2021.

A 2023 study identified more than 2,100 3D-printed firearm plans available online, including files hosted on mainstream platforms such as Google Drive and GitHub. Researchers at the Global Network on Extremism and Technology say the 3D2A community often shares designs via a platform informally called "The Gatalog." Community members can be ideologically diverse — ranging from far-left activists to far-right groups and anarchists — yet they are often united around maximizing the freedom to produce unregistered firearms.

Who Is At Risk

Authorities express particular concern about youth access: many schools now have 3D printers, and consumer models can be purchased for roughly $200 to $3,000. Officials say a significant portion of recoveries involve people under 18; Nilan has reported that more than 20% of 3D-printed ghost guns recovered by authorities were found in the hands or homes of minors.

Law Enforcement And Tech Responses

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said his office is working with law enforcement and technology companies to limit the online distribution of CAD files for guns. Prosecutors and investigators report that some young defendants describe learning to build firearms from online videos and tutorials, prompting outreach to platforms to restrict access for minors.

YouTube says it prohibits content that instructs viewers how to manufacture ghost guns or accessories that convert firearms to automatic fire, and that it removes and blocks uploads that violate its firearms policy. Law-enforcement officials in New York are pursuing enforcement, legal measures and partnerships with tech firms to curtail the spread of printable weapon designs.

What Officials Recommend

Authorities urge parents and educators to monitor online activity and to be aware of the potential for 3D printers and shared plans to be used to produce weapons at home or in schools. Investigators emphasize that combining enforcement with outreach to technology platforms and the public will be critical to limiting the spread of untraceable firearms.

Note: Many details cited here (recoveries, studies, statements) are reported by law enforcement and advocacy groups; some criminal cases described involve allegations that remain subject to prosecution and legal determination.