Popular 3D printing platform prohibits blueprints for firearms, yet amateur gun manufacturers find alternative methods
In an effort to curb the proliferation of untraceable "ghost guns," the Manhattan District Attorney has called for new laws and urged popular 3D printing site Thingiverse to purge its library of downloadable gun designs. However, alternative sites offering such designs continue to operate, posing a challenge to law enforcement efforts.
Thingiverse, a popular free library of 3D design files, had already banned weapons in its terms of use. Recently, the platform has agreed to improve its moderation procedures and technology, including adding AI automation to its moderation process. Despite these efforts, human moderators will have the final call on any takedowns.
One such alternative site is The Gatalog, which claims to rigorously beta test all the files it hosts to ensure they are both effective and safe to use. It offers various firearm design files, including those that are either wholly or partially 3D printed. Another site, Hoffman Tactical, provides both design files and metal kits required to complete firearms. Users can download designs for specific firearm parts such as the lower receiver of an AR-15 and buy corresponding metal parts from the company to complete the build.
Online store Palmetto State Armory also sells gun parts, which can be combined with 3D printed components to assemble firearms. Files for well-known 3D printed firearms such as the Liberator (completely plastic) and the FGC-9 (which uses 3D printed parts combined with metal parts shaped at home) circulate within these communities and platforms.
While Thingiverse has recently banned gun design files and implemented AI-driven detection to block them, other sites and communities remain active or less regulated, making them alternative sources for such files. Awareness of increasing law enforcement efforts and site cooperation to control or remove these files is growing, but there is no comprehensive centralized restriction beyond Thingiverse’s policies as of mid-2025.
The use of 3D printed guns has been linked to several incidents, including the case of Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson using a 3D printed gun. Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun safety advocacy group, lists 208 incidents of shootings carried out with ghost guns dating back to 2013.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg believes that law enforcement needs the help and expertise of the private sector to aid efforts in stopping the rise of 3D-printed weapons. Sean Aranda, a 3D printed gun hobbyist, emphasizes the importance of downloading files from reputable sources with tested designs and build instructions.
As the landscape of accessible 3D printed gun designs continues to evolve, the challenge for law enforcement and advocacy groups remains in ensuring comprehensive regulation and safety measures.
Summary Table:
| Site | Offers 3D Gun Designs? | Notes | |--------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Thingiverse | No (recently banned) | Implemented AI to block gun designs; cooperating with authorities | | The Gatalog | Yes | Beta-tests files for safety and effectiveness | | Hoffman Tactical | Yes (designs + metal kits) | Offers both 3D printable designs and metal component kits | | Palmetto State Armory | Yes (gun parts) | Sells metal gun parts to complement 3D printing |
The Manhattan District Attorney is calling for new laws and urging popular platforms like Thingiverse to tighten their moderation procedures, including the implementation of AI technology for better automated detection of gun design files. Other sites such as The Gatalog and Hoffman Tactical continue to offer and host such designs, presenting a challenge to law enforcement efforts in curbing the spread of these untraceable "ghost guns."
Despite Thingiverse's efforts in banning gun design files and utilizing AI-driven detection, alternative sites and communities actively provide these designs, serving as alternative sources for users seeking to create 3D printed guns. As the use of these weapons has been linked to several incidents, advocacy groups like Everytown for Gun Safety emphasize the need for comprehensive regulation and safety measures in controlling the evolution of accessible 3D printed gun designs.
