Rep. Deutch Leads Reintroduction of Ban on 3D Printed Guns with Senators Markey and Menendez

Press Release

Washington (June 29, 2021) -- Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), and U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-22), Bradley Schneider (IL-10), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), and Val B. Demings (FL-10) today reintroduced the 3D Printed Gun Safety Act, legislation to prohibit the online distribution of blueprints and instructions that allow for the three dimensional (3D) printing of firearms.

Because 3D printing allows individuals to make firearms out of plastic, these guns may be able to evade detection by metal detectors at security checkpoints, increasing the risk that a firearm will be used to perpetrate violence on an airplane or in another area where people congregate. The increasing availability of 3D printers means unlicensed individuals, including felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous individuals, could obtain a firearm by manufacturing it themselves. These firearms are also untraceable since they do not have a serial number for law enforcement to reference. If the instructions for 3D printing firearms and firearm parts are available online, people intending to commit gun crimes may create untraceable firearms in order to avoid accountability for these crimes. The 3D Printed Gun Safety Act will make it illegal to distribute online digital files that can automatically program a 3D printer to produce or complete the manufacture of a firearm.

"With no background check required, untraceable and undetectable 3D printed guns serve as the ultimate gun-acquisition loophole," said Senator Markey. "With the click of a mouse, anyone can download a computer file and use a 3D printer to manufacture a semi-automatic weapon. We cannot allow the online availability of downloadable firearms to add fuel to the fire that already is a massive gun violence public safety crisis. I thank Senator Menendez and Congressman Deutch for their tremendous partnership on this legislation that will help close a major safety loophole."

"With the click of a mouse, anyone with an internet connection and a 3D printer essentially has a license to print, shoot and kill," said Senator Menendez. "Undetectable and untraceable 3D printed guns allow criminals to circumvent law enforcement and commit crimes. That's why we must close the "3D Gun Loophole' that allows dangerous individuals to exploit gaps in existing law to manufacture firearms at home they cannot otherwise legally obtain."

"3D printers are increasingly used to manufacture everyday goods easily and cheaply; but, we cannot allow individuals to make deadly firearms with the same ease," said Congressman Deutch. "These printers are capable of making high-strength plastic firearms that are untraceable and undetectable -- something criminals and other individuals prohibited by law from possessing a firearm could use to evade our laws. Congress must take care to ensure that internet access does not equal gun access."

"If plans for homemade plastic guns are readily available on the internet, with just a few clicks individuals could avoid a background check and build a deadly firearm undetectable by security systems," said Congressman Schneider. "These 3D-printed guns are a threat to the safety of our nation and communities, and I'm thankful to my colleagues in the Senate and House for working to keep these blueprints from being posted online."

"At a time when gun violence surges nationwide, especially in Florida, easy accessibility to untraceable, undetectable 3D-printed guns further impedes our ability to keep communities safe. As 3D printers become cheaper to obtain and easier to operate, that threat becomes all the more real. This vital legislation is urgently needed to keep lethal weapons out of the hands of dangerous people," said Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz.

"The idea of untraceable, undetectable guns available to anyone, even violent criminals and domestic abusers, with the click of a mouse is utterly terrifying. More than 90% of Americans support universal background checks for gun purchases, yet the online distribution of blueprints and instructions allow anyone to download and print a firearm without scrutiny! Preventing these deadly blueprints from being distributed online is simple common sense and will save lives," said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney

"Unregulated printing of untraceable guns is a clear public safety threat. I saw while serving as a 27-year law enforcement officer that keeping guns out of the wrong hands is vital to keep our communities safe," said Congresswoman Demings. "This is a key step as we work to stop ghost guns and 3D printed weapons from flooding our communities, and I call on all reasonable members of the House and Senate to join us so we can move swiftly on this common sense legislation."

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

Other members of the Senate co-sponsoring the legislation include Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Corey Booker (D-N.J.), Christopher A. Coons (D-Del), and Maize K. Hirono (D-Hawaii).

Other members of the House of Representatives co-sponsoring the legislation include Representatives Bradley Schneider [IL-10], Debbie Wasserman Schultz [FL-23], Carolyn B Maloney [NY-12], Lisa Blunt Rochester [DE], Don Beyer [VA-8], Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Sean Casten [IL-06], Kathy Castor [FL-14], Judy Chu [CA-27], Katherine M. Clark [MA-5], Yvette Clarke [NY-9], Gerald E. Connolly [VA-11], Charlie Crist [FL-13], Danny K. Davis [IL-7], Susan A. Davis, [CA-53], Madeleine Dean [PA-4], Suzan DelBene [WA-1], Val B. Demings [FL-10], Mark DeSaulnier [CA-11], Adriano Espaillat [NY-13], Dwight Evans, [PA-3], Jared Huffman, [CA-2] Pramila Jayapal [WA-7], Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. [GA-4], William R. Keating [MA-9], Kelly, Robin L. [IL-2], Ro Khanna [CA-17], Barbara Lee, [CA-13], Alan Lowenthal [CA-47], Sean Patrick Maloney [NY-18], Grace Meng [NY-6], Eleanor Holmes Norton [DC], Donald Payne [NJ-10], Scott H. Peters [CA-52], Mike Quigley [IL-5], Jaime Raskin [MD-8], Raúl Grijalva [AZ-03], Kathleen M. Rice [NY-4], C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger [MD-2], Janice D. Schakowsky [IL-9], Darren Soto [FL-9], Abigail Spanberger [VA-7], Thomas R. Suozzi [NY-3], Dina Titus [NV-1], Bonnie Watson Coleman [NJ-12]

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