3D-printed guns could become "the weapon of choice" for criminals and violent extremists around the world, an expert has told the BBC. These DIY, untraceable firearms have been recovered in several recent criminal cases, including thealleged use of a partially 3D-printed gunin the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. BBC Trending has investigated the global spread of 3D-printed guns across social media platforms including Telegram, Facebook and Instagram, as well as websites offering how-to guides. 3D-printed guns, often described as a type of "ghost" gun, are untraceable firearms that can be assembled using a 3D printer, downloadable blueprints and some basic materials. Designed to evade gun-control laws, the technology has advanced rapidly in the last decade, with the latest models capable of firing multiple rounds without their plastic components breaking. According to Nick Suplina of Everytown, a US-based gun control organisation, 3D-printed guns could become the "weapon of choice" for people planning acts of violence: "The materials have gotten better, the cost has gone down, and the ease of access of these blueprints is at a high," he said. BBC Trending's investigation began with advertisements for guns on Instagram and Facebook. In October 2024, the Tech Transparency Project, a non-profit that monitors technology companies,foundhundreds of gun ads - including for 3D-printed and other ghost guns - appearing on Meta's platforms, in violation of its policies. Meta declined to comment on the findings at the time. Several months later, BBC Trending found similar gun adverts still showing as active in Meta's ad database. Many of these gun adverts directed potential customers to Telegram or WhatsApp channels. On Telegram, we found channels displaying a variety of guns for sale. Some of these appeared to be 3D-printed. One Telegram account with over 1,000 subscribers claimed to ship weapons globally. BBC Trending contacted the account, which called itself "Jessy", to confirm whether it would be willing to break the law by shipping 3D-printed guns to the UK. Within an hour, Jessy offered us a Liberator or a Glock switch. A glock switch (also known as an auto sear) is a small, sometimes 3D-printed part that converts a pistol into an automatic weapon. The Liberator, designed in 2013 by "crypto-anarchist"Cody Wilson, is the world's first widely available 3D-printed gun, capable of firing a single shot. Jessy claimed he could smuggle the weapon through UK customs, asked for payment of £160 in bitcoin, then suggested a bank transfer to a UK account we couldn't trace. When we later contacted Jessy, identifying ourselves as the BBC, he acknowledged that selling weapons in the UK is illegal but sounded unapologetic. "I run my business, sell some straps [slang for weapons] online," he said. We did not proceed with the transaction to test Jessy's claims. While his casual attitude suggested he might have been a scammer, his ability to advertise on Meta and operate on Telegram highlights apparent loopholes that real gun dealers could exploit. When contacted, Meta told the BBC that the adverts we highlighted had been "automatically disabled in line with our policies", and that inclusion in its ad library "doesn't necessarily mean the ad is still live or visible". Telegram said that Jessy's account had been proactively removed for breaching its policies. A spokesperson added: "The sale of weapons is explicitly forbidden by Telegram's terms of service and is removed whenever discovered. Moderators empowered with custom AI and machine learning tools proactively monitor public parts of the platform and accept reports in order to remove millions of pieces of harmful content each day, including the sale of weapons." Concerningly though, people seeking 3D-printed guns don't need to buy readymade ones through social media. They can assemble their own. Models like the FGC-9 are designed using only 3D-printed plastic and repurposed metal components, with no commercially available gun parts required. "You are essentially becoming a DIY gunsmith," says Dr Rajan Basra, a researcher at King's College London. However, "It's not as easy as printing off a sheet of A4 paper in your office printer." As the BBC haspreviously reported, there are websites offering free step-by-step guides and downloadable blueprints for building 3D-printed guns. One such guide was written by Matthew Larosiere, a gun rights attorney in Florida. He's associated with the global pro-3D-printed gun community, which has many members in the USA who see the Second Amendment right to bear arms as a human right. BBC Trending challenged him about why he is sharing information to help people build a lethal weapon. He replied: "It's just information. It's ones and zeros. The fact that the information has a use case that makes you uncomfortable, I understand and I sympathise with that, but that doesn't make it correct to say it's anything more than information." Asked about the risk of this "information" being used in a school shooting or massacre, he replied: "I thank God that has not happened." He cited Myanmar as a country where, in his view, 3D-printed guns have served a positive cause. Myanmar is currently the only known case of 3D-printed guns being used in active military conflict. The FGC-9's use by resistance fighters against the junta has been widely reported. But as BBC Burmese's Hnin Mo discovered, many of these groups have since stopped using 3D-printed guns. This is despite resistance forces producing hundreds of FGC-9s in 2022 and 2023, which cost over ten times less than machine guns on the black market. The rebel leaders Hnin Mo spoke to cited the junta's tight control over imports of essential materials like glue and metal. Additionally, these groups now have more conventional weapons at their disposal, such as RPGs or machine guns. The Myanmar example demonstrates the limitations of current 3D-printed guns for military use. But globally, their spread is clear. Several countries areconsidering lawsto criminalise the possession of blueprints. There are alsocalls for 3D printer manufacturersto block the printing of gun parts, in the same way that conventional printers restrict the printing of currency. But whether such measures can be effective remains to be seen. Additional reporting by Hnin Mo, BBC Burmese For more on this story: BBC World Service goes inside the world of 3D printed guns. WatchPrint and Shoot - the global spread of 3D-printed guns Listen toBBC Trending: Print and shoot: The rise of 3D-printed guns
How 3D-printed guns are spreading online
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TruthLens AI Summary
3D-printed guns are emerging as a significant concern for law enforcement and public safety, as experts warn that these untraceable firearms could become the preferred weapon for criminals and violent extremists. These weapons can be easily assembled using 3D printers, downloadable blueprints, and basic materials, making them a viable option for those looking to evade gun control laws. The technology has advanced significantly over the past decade, with modern 3D-printed guns capable of firing multiple rounds without the plastic parts breaking. Nick Suplina from Everytown, a gun control organization, noted that the lower costs and increased accessibility of blueprints contribute to the potential rise of 3D-printed guns as a weapon of choice for individuals planning violent acts. Recent investigations by BBC Trending revealed numerous advertisements for 3D-printed guns on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, despite such ads violating the platforms' policies. Many of these ads directed users to channels on Telegram, where guns were actively being sold, including 3D-printed models, demonstrating a concerning loophole that could be exploited by actual gun dealers.
The investigation also highlighted the ease with which individuals can acquire the necessary information to build their own 3D-printed firearms. Websites offering free guides and blueprints have proliferated, enabling users to become DIY gunsmiths. The FGC-9, for instance, is a model that can be constructed using only 3D-printed plastic and repurposed metal parts, eliminating the need for commercially available gun components. While some, like gun rights attorney Matthew Larosiere, argue that sharing this information is merely disseminating knowledge, the potential for misuse in violent scenarios cannot be overlooked. The situation is further complicated by the global context, as seen in Myanmar, where 3D-printed guns have been used by resistance fighters against a military junta. However, as these groups have gained access to more conventional weapons, the reliance on 3D-printed firearms has diminished. As the spread of 3D-printed guns continues, discussions about legal measures to criminalize the possession of blueprints and restrict the printing of gun parts are gaining traction, although the effectiveness of such regulations remains uncertain.
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