By Dave Workman
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced plans to “strengthen” Empire State gun control laws by, as stated in a news release from her office, “cracking down on 3D-printed and illegal firearms.”
Hochul, a Democrat, has her sights set on 3-D printed guns and so-called “ghost guns,” and according to her press release, this is her legislative agenda:
- Make it a crime for a person to intentionally sell, distribute, or possess digital instructions to illegally manufacture or produce a firearm or component parts without a license.
- Mandate the reporting of 3D printed guns to the Criminal Gun Clearinghouse database maintained by the New York State Police.
- Create a first-in-the-nation policy that requires the establishment of minimum safety standards for 3D printer manufacturers to ensure their products are equipped with technology that blocks the printer from creating firearms and component parts.
- Require gun manufacturers to design pistols so they cannot be quickly and easily modified into DIY machine guns through the use of illegal devices, such as Glock switches.
The Gothamist is reporting that Hochul is essentially zeroing in on home gunsmiths. The publication quotes her stating, “ We will not allow do-it-yourself gun traffickers to convert their homes into unsanctioned firearm factories.”
A report from the New York City Mayor’s office asserted, “Out of the more than 25,000 guns seized since the beginning of the Adams administration, over 1,600 of them have been identified as ghost guns — unserialized, and therefore untraceable, firearms that are assembled through components purchased either as a kit, as separate pieces, or manufactured using 3-D printers.”
“These weapons are fully functioning firearms and often end up in the hands of criminals as well as underage purchasers,” the mayor’s office said. “Incidents involving ghost guns reflect a dangerously escalating trend — one that the NYPD is leading the charge against.”
According to the statement, the NYPD recovered 17 ghost guns in 2018, 48 in 2019, 150 in 2020, 263 in 2021, 528 in 2022, 401 in 2023, 435 in 2024, and 295 in 2025.
In her announcement, Hochul declared, “Public safety is my top priority. When I took office, I made a promise to New Yorkers to attack the gun violence epidemic head-on, and as gun technology continues to evolve, so do our strongest-in-the-nation gun laws. From the iron pipeline to the plastic pipeline, these proposals will keep illegal ghost guns off of New York streets, and enhance measures to track and block the production of dangerous and illegal firearms in our state. I remain committed to continuing the progress we saw in 2025 to reduce gun violence in New York and ensuring our laws remain the strongest and safest in the nation.”
According to Hochul’s announcement, “In 2025, shootings statewide fell to their lowest levels on record and were down 60 percent from when Governor Hochul took office in 2021.”
Workman is editor-in-chief at TheGunMag.com
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