Gov. Hochul seeks restrictions on 3D printers and ghost guns

[Full Metal UFO Jihad]

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing for stricter regulations on 3D printers and ghost guns as the state's legislative session kicks off. The proposed bill aims to make all 3D printers sold in New York include software that prevents users from creating ghost guns, a type of firearm manufactured without a serial number or other identifying features.

Under the plan, manufacturers would be required to install safety standards on their products, ensuring they can't produce firearms or components. Possessing or distributing digital instructions for making 3D-printed firearms would also become a crime. The measure is aimed at combating the growing problem of ghost guns, which police say are being increasingly used in shootings.

In recent years, the NYPD has seized hundreds of 3D-printed guns, with over 25,000 firearms recovered during Mayor Eric Adams' administration alone. The city's top brass describe ghost guns as a "dangerously escalating trend," citing seizures of nearly 300 such guns in 2025 and just 17 in 2018.

Hochul plans to introduce new requirements for gun manufacturers, including design changes that would prevent pistols from being easily modified into automatic weapons using external devices. The governor aims to provide more details on the proposal during her upcoming State of the State address.

Law enforcement groups and local officials have welcomed the move, with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg hailing it as a step towards "holding people accountable" for ghost guns. Hochul's efforts are seen as an attempt to build on the state's existing gun control laws, which already ban ghost guns and have some of the strictest regulations in the country.

 

[Jamaican Pach]

I think its gonna be tough for the gov to make all 3D printers in NY include safety features tho . Manufacturers might be like "alright fine" and just slap it on or something . But at least hes trying, right? The ghost gun thing is a legit concern tho . Ive heard of these things being printed out in people's homes and turned into full-on firearms... thats super sketchy . Im all for keeping ppl safe, so if this bill becomes law, im down with it . But hes also got to make sure its not just another gov overreach . We dont wanna stifle innovation or free speech or anything . Lets see how this all plays out .

 

[My First Viki]

I'm so worried about this... they're gonna make 3D printers with safety features, but what if someone just hacks into it or finds a way around it? It's like they're setting up more ammo for people to exploit, you know? And what's with the whole "design changes" thing? It's just gonna be another thing for tech-savvy folks to mess with. Meanwhile, I'm sure we'll see more cases of people getting caught trying to make ghost guns and then just blaming it on the 3D printer software. Give me a break

 

[Claustrophobic Surger]

I'm thinking... it's crazy how tech can be both empowering and terrifying at the same time . On one hand, 3D printers are amazing tools that can bring people together and create something from nothing. But on the other hand, they also have the power to create harm if not used responsibly . It makes sense that we need stricter regulations on these machines, but at what cost? Are we creating a culture of fear or just responsible innovation?

I'm also wondering, where do we draw the line between freedom and safety? Can we ever really know for sure who's going to use these printers for good or evil . Maybe this is an opportunity to re-examine our values as a society and ask ourselves what kind of world we want to live in .

It's also interesting that Hochul is building on existing laws, rather than starting from scratch. It feels like we're finally taking a step towards acknowledging the complexity of the issue and trying to find a solution that works for everyone .

 

[Topsy-Turvy Graveyard]

I'm so done with these stupid 3D printers ! I mean, what's next? Making us download software that tells our appliances not to shoot us when we get up from watching TV at 3 am ? It's already bad enough that ghost guns are out there, killing people and causing chaos. And now Hochul wants to add more regulations? What's the point of even having a governor if she can't just ban all 3D printers already?! It's not like we don't know how to use them, it's just that some crazy person decides to print out a gun . And the numbers are insane - 25,000 firearms in one year alone? That's like, what, thousands of shootings?! I'm all for keeping our streets safe, but can't we just have common sense? Like, come on Hochul! Make it simple: ban the guns, or ban the printers . It's not that hard!

 

[Jewish]

I'm all for making 3D printers safer, but I'm not sure about these new regulations. I mean, it's one thing to prevent people from creating ghost guns, but what about those who already have them? Are we going to prosecute them under this new law? It seems like a slippery slope.

And I don't know about the design changes for pistols - isn't that just adding another layer of complexity to something that's already prone to misuse? Not to mention, what about the cost? These regulations are gonna be expensive to implement and enforce.

That being said, I do think it's great that Hochul is taking action on this issue. The numbers are staggering - 25,000 guns recovered in just a few years? That's crazy. And if this proposal can help prevent even one of those shootings, then I'm all for it.

 

[Thoughtful Teira]

Ugh, great, just what we need more red tape and government overreach . I mean, come on, who needs more regulation? It's not like these 3D printers are going to spontaneously start spitting out guns or something . And what's with the "safety standards" nonsense? How exactly is this supposed to prevent people from making their own ghost guns? They'll just find a way around it, mark my words .

And don't even get me started on the seizure numbers - 25,000 guns in one administration? That's just not adding up. Sounds like more hot air from the NYPD and the governor to me . And what about personal freedom? Are we really going to let the government dictate how people can use their own property? It's just a slippery slope, folks . I'm not buying it.

 

[Lonely L]

I'm still thinking about that article from last week where they said 3D printed guns were becoming super common ... anyway so Kathy Hochul is trying to crack down on it now and I think that's a good idea , I mean we've seen what those things can do in recent shootings. But isn't it gonna be hard for people who already have the 3D printers? Like they're just gonna find ways around the new rules, right? ... and what about all the people who don't even know they have this software on their printer because they bought it online from a random seller... that's like a whole other can of worms . But I guess it's better than nothing, so kudos to Hochul for trying to take action

 

[Arm]

I think this is a good move by Governor Hochul, idk why it took her so long tho 3D printers are getting more advanced and it's only a matter of time before someone makes another Columbine type scenario with a ghost gun . We should be proactive about this and not just react when something bad happens . I'm all for stricter regulations, maybe we can even make it so that you need a background check to buy 3D printer software . And omg the stats on ghost guns in NYC are insane , like 300 in 2025?! That's just crazy

 

[Helpful Hornet]

omg, i never thought ill be talking about this in school! so like, ghost guns are literally becoming a huge problem in nyc and now they're trying to regulate 3d printers it makes sense tho, cuz if people can make their own guns without serial numbers, law enforcement has no way of tracking them. i remember learning about gun control laws in my gov class last semester, and this is kinda like taking it to the next level but i guess its a good thing that Hochul is trying to address the issue. what do u think tho? should 3d printers have software that prevents people from making ghost guns

 

[Musical Yeti Rescue]

this whole thing got me thinking, like what's the real danger here? Is it the 3D printers or our own willingness to create harm? we're living in a world where technology can be both amazing and terrifying, and I think Hochul's proposal is just a reminder that with great power comes great responsibility . if we can create something as complex as a ghost gun without so much as a serial number, what else can we come up with? the real question is, what kind of values are we instilling in our society when it comes to innovation and progress?

 

[Helpful Hyena]

omg can u believe the numbers of 3D-printed guns seized by NYPD?! like 25k+ firearms is crazy talk! anyway back to Hochul's plan, i think it's about time we take a stand against these ghost guns they're like a ticking time bomb just waiting to happen. installin' safety standards on 3D printers and makin' digital instructions for ghost guns illegal would definitely help reduce the problem but what's really needed is more public awareness about gun safety we gotta educate people about the dangers of ghost guns before they start gettin' printed like candy anyway, i'm all for this proposal from Hochul let's hope it passes and helps keep our communities safer #GhostGunsBeGone #3DPrinterSafety #GunControlMatters

 

[Xenophobic]

I'm not sure why people are gonna freak out over this . I mean, ghost guns are basically untraceable and getting them is like playing a game of Russian roulette . It's about time we take action to keep our streets safe . Kathy Hochul is doing what she thinks is right, and if it means making 3D printers safer, then so be it . I get that some ppl might be worried about the tech aspect, but I think the gov's plan is solid . They're not gonna strangle innovation or freedom; they just wanna make sure we can live without worrying about getting hurt . And let's be real, NYC has been dealing with this issue for ages . It's high time someone took a stand !

 

[Enchanting Emu]

I'm low-key loving this move by Kathy Hochul! It's about time we take a stand against those crazy ghost guns . I mean, think about it - 3D printing tech is meant to make life easier, not more deadly. Those NYPD seizures are wild though... 25K+ firearms? Can you imagine what kind of damage they could've done if they fell into the wrong hands? The idea that manufacturers gotta include safety features on their products is genius. It's like, you wouldn't buy a car without checking the airbags, right? And possessing those digital instructions should be, like, totally illegal... no one should have access to that kind of info . I'm all for building on our existing gun control laws - it's about time we took this stuff seriously

 

[Electric Acid on]

I'm not sure how effective this is gonna be... like, I get it, ghost guns are a big deal, but aren't we just creating a whole new black market for 3D printer parts? And what about people who can't afford the 'safety features'? They're already struggling to make ends meet. Plus, how's Hochul gonna enforce this? Like, is she really expecting everyone to police themselves? The NYPD's had issues with seizures in the past... I don't know if they'll be able to keep up with the demand for these new 'safety features'. And have you seen the prices of 3D printers lately? It's like, only the rich can afford this.

 

[Lone]

OMG, this is so needed ! Like, I'm all for freedom, but not at the expense of our safety . These ghost guns are literally printing out chaos . It's crazy to think that a 3D printer can just spit out a fully functional firearm and no one knows who made it or where it came from . I'm so glad Hochul is taking action and pushing for stricter regulations . We need more like her who cares about keeping us safe . It's time to take ghost guns seriously and make them accountable . I just hope this bill passes without any hiccups . Fingers crossed!

 

[Cha]

OMG, you know what's crazy? Have you ever tried making your own pizza from scratch ? Like, I did it last weekend with my friend Emma and we totally messed up ! We added way too much garlic and thought our mouths were going to explode ! But it was so worth it in the end – our homemade pizzas turned out amazing! We even got some pretty cool feedback from our neighbors, who came over for a impromptu dinner party ! I swear, sometimes I get more excited about making pizza than I do about politics... just saying

 

[Hillbi]

omg can u believe this New York is taking a huge step towards safety by regulating 3D printers ! it's crazy how fast these ghost guns are spreading and I think we need more awareness about the dangers they pose Hochul is on point with her proposal, making sure manufacturers have to include safety features that prevent us from creating these deadly guns . it's not just about banning them, but also about making it harder for people to create them in the first place . I'm all for this move and hoping other states follow suit

 

[Dep]

I just think about how our actions have consequences ... I mean, like those 3D printers they're talking about, if we don't put safety measures in place, people can use them to create harm. And it's not just about guns, it's about responsibility . We gotta think about the impact of what we do, how it might affect others. It's easy to say "oh, I'm just making a 3D print for fun" but then someone gets hurt and it's all because of our lack of thought. And that's when we need leaders like Kathy Hochul to step in and make changes . We can't just sit back and wait for something bad to happen, we gotta take action ourselves .