The Connecticut House passed sweeping new gun laws this month attempting to curb firearms-related violence. Despite the efforts of many states to curtail crime with firearms bans, 3D-printed, homemade firearms continue to exploit the shortcomings of these policies. With the increasing prevalence of homemade firearms by criminals, can we finally shift the focus from bans and legislation to empowering responsible owners in self-defense?

Gun control advocates have been center stage and energetically rallying for "assault weapons bans" this year, but their endeavors are haunted by a phantom: 3D-printed ghost guns. These unserialized and frequently homemade firearms have surged in prevalence due to readily available 3D-printing technology. Anybody with a 3D printer can bypass stringent gun control measures to craft a firearm at home. As bans and legislation have continually been out of touch with the reality of the situation, policymakers should forgo these bans and approach public safety by empowering people to defend themselves and those around them.

This year, several states have enacted stricter gun laws. For instance, Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) signed bills banning AR- and AK-style rifles, instituting a 10-day waiting period for firearm purchases, and enabling liability lawsuits against firearms manufacturers. Similarly, Colorado’s legislation created longer wait times and increased the minimum age for firearm sales. These measures ignore the existence of 3D-printed ghost guns.

What good does it do to bar law-abiding citizens from purchasing these guns if any criminal with a 3D printer can just make them at home? The availability and portability of 3D printers facilitate the creation of these ghost guns virtually anywhere. This means that even the locations with the most strict gun control are prone to violators. Despite strict gun control, the Buffalo, New York, Police Department reported a huge increase in ghost guns seized from five in 2020 to 69 in 2021.

Clearly, technology has outpaced legislation. Bills such as Washington’s and Colorado’s, as well as calls from the White House to “ban assault weapons,” do little to enhance public safety and come at the expense of citizens' right to defend themselves. The AR-15 is the most popular choice in America for self and home defense and should be protected in accordance with the 2022 Supreme Court ruling from NYSRPA v. Bruen , where the majority decision stated that the Second Amendment protects weapons that are in common use at the time. A ban on the AR-15-style rifle removes the best means of protecting yourself, your family, and your home, as well as violates your Second Amendment rights.

According to a February New York Times article , the use of ghost guns at crime scenes has escalated significantly, from about 1,600 in 2017 to nearly 20,000 in 2021. And the more governments restrict law-abiding citizens from legally acquiring traceable firearms, the more they encourage them to turn to 3D-printed firearms, thereby increasing the prevalence of ghost guns and bypassing existing legislation.

Each newly enacted gun control law or firearms ban leaves us trailing behind evolving criminal methods rather than advancing public safety. Legislation that strips away a law-abiding citizen's means of personal defense leaves them vulnerable to those armed with illegally obtained or printed firearms. It is unconscionable for elected representatives and legislators to strip the right of firearm ownership for self-defense from criminal threats while they continue to enjoy protection from these threats through their armed security.

Persisting with prohibitive gun control measures, including bans on AR and AK platforms, threatens to create a society where peaceful citizens become subjects to criminal intent. Instead, policymakers should seek to ensure that people can protect themselves in a world where threats emanate not just from purchasable firearms, but also from those that can be printed.

Parker McCumber is a field artillery officer with over 11 years of combat arms experience in the Army and Army National Guard, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Parker is a serial entrepreneur and contributor for Young Voices who specializes in firearms policy and international affairs.