Additive Manufacturing and the Production of Firearms and Machine Guns

Additive manufacturing provides individuals with production capability previously unknown to the average consumer. However, this capability may be inadvertently used or intentionally exploited to violate Federal firearms law and regulations. Specifically, additive manufacturing has increasingly been used create firearms, including items known as Machinegun Conversion Devices (MCDs). MCDs are generally small devices, made of one or very few parts. In seconds however, these devices convert semiautomatic firearms into machineguns--fully automatic firearms. Federal law regulates MCDs as "machineguns" regardless of whether they are attached to or possessed with a weapon. In addition, additive manufacturing may be used to create complete weapons with minimal metal components that are capable of firing a commercially produced ammunition. Such firearms may not be detectable in walk-through metal detectors and therefore may also violate Federal law. It is important for those engaged in additive manufacturing to be aware of the law governing these topics.