Florida Senator pushing for stricter regulations of 3D-printed ‘ghost guns’

ORLANDO, Fla. — 9 Investigates the latest push to regulate so-called ‘ghost guns’ at the state level.

It’s been three years since Channel 9 investigative reporter Karla Ray first exposed the process of buying and building an untraceable gun.

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Now, the lawmaker behind the latest proposed legislation to track these weapons says getting an untraceable weapon has gotten even easier since then, thanks to the advancement of 3D printers.

3D-printed guns are the types of weapons that State Sen. Linda Stewart wants to target. However, she’s not confident she’ll get support, as any amount of gun control rarely does in Tallahassee.

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“3D printing machines are much less expensive, like $1,500 on Amazon, and you can make as many guns as you like without this bill,” Stewart said. “You could just go and manufacture as many of these as you like, and hand them out to your friends, there’s no licensing involved.”

Stewart is introducing Senate Bill 372, which would require 3D-printed firearms contain at least four ounces of metal, and prohibit the use of certain plastic polymers that can withstand someone pulling the trigger.

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“I just know we’re going down a very dangerous path if we don’t do this,” Stewart said.

Unlike the ghost gun that we built through a kit, the types of guns Stewart is describing don’t always show up in metal detectors. The Federal Undetectable Firearms Act already makes it illegal to carry such a weapon, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t being built.

Stewart’s bill would also call on people who already have guns like this to turn them in. So far, she does not have a sponsor in the House.