Guides: Gun Laws: 3D-Printed Guns

Note The library cannot help you determine whether you are legally allowed to carry or possess a firearm.

Can I make a 3D-printed gun at home?

Federal laws regulate the manufacture of firearms in the U.S. and set restrictions on the types of guns that can be made.

Section 922 in Title 18 of the U.S Code
Subsection (p) of this statute makes it unlawful to create, possess, or distribute certain firearms that are not detectable by metal detectors “after removal of grips, stocks, and magazines.” It also states that all “major components” of firearms must be detectable by x-ray machines. This statute was added as part of the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988.
Despite Ruling on 3D-Printed Guns, it Remains Legal to Make Your Own Gun at Home (8/1/2018)
This article from the Washington Post discusses the laws that govern whether or not individuals may make their own guns for personal use. It includes a discussion of the legal restrictions on making certain types of firearms.

Can blueprints for making 3D-printed guns be distributed online?

In 2018, a federal judge blocked the company Defense Distributed from posting blueprints for 3D-printed guns online. This order was the result of ongoing litigation between the company and the U.S. Department of State. So far, the company's efforts to combat the 2018 ruling have been unsuccessful.

Federal Judge Blocks Posting of Blueprints for 3D-Printed Guns Hours Before They Were to be Published (7/37/2018)
This article describes the restraining order that was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Robert S. Lasnik in 2018 which prevented Defense Distributed, a company in Texas, from sharing blueprints for creating several types of 3D-printed guns.
Blueprints for 3-D Printed Guns Cannot Be Posted Online, Judge Says (11/12/2019)
This article describes a November 2019 federal court decision that blocked the Trump administration from allowing blueprints for 3D-printed guns to be posted on the internet. The judge ruled that the rule change violated federal procedures.
Austin-based company attempting to distribute 3D gun blueprints online hits legal setback (1/21/2020)
This article describes how, in January 2020, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to allow Defense Distributed to revive their previous lawsuit. The company wants to distribute plans for 3D-printed guns online, but has been blocked from doing so by the courts since 2018.

Note The library cannot help you determine whether you are legally allowed to carry or possess a firearm.