Washington Governor Signs Landmark Bill to Address Threat of 3D-Printed Ghost Guns

Washington Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers Advocated Consistently for the Passage of this Legislation 

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Today, Governor Bob Ferguson signed HB 2320 into law, landmark legislation to strengthen Washington’s ghost gun law and address the growing threat of untraceable, 3D-printed firearms. With the governor’s signature, Washington continues to lead the nation in advancing innovative solutions to prevent gun violence and keep communities safe.

Ghost guns are unserialized, untraceable firearms that can be manufactured at home without a background check, allowing minors and other prohibited individuals to bypass Washington’s gun safety laws. Rapidly evolving 3D printing technology and digital blueprints have accelerated this threat, making it easier than ever to produce illegal weapons outside of the legal system.

HB 2320 closes these technological loopholes by regulating the digital blueprints that allow gun printing and by prohibiting the use of 3D printers and CNC milling machines to manufacture firearms and machine gun conversion devices. By bringing these DIY weapons under the same standards as traditional firearms, the law ensures that investigators are no longer left at a “dead end” when untraceable weapons are recovered at crime scenes.

“3D-printed guns are just as scary as they sound: untraceable weapons that allow criminals to thwart law enforcement and make a firearm with the push of a button,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “With this new law, Washington is leading the nation in the fight against this emerging threat, and taking common-sense measures to prevent people from using 3D printers as a way to avoid a background check.”

“Untraceable guns don’t just bypass laws, they cost lives,” said Ju Namkung, a volunteer with the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We’re deeply grateful to Governor Ferguson for signing this bill and to Representative Salahuddin and the lawmakers who worked tirelessly to get it across the finish line. This law will undoubtedly make our communities safer and we’re proud to live in a state that is putting public safety first.” 

“Young people across Washington have grown up practicing lockdown drills and living with the reality of gun violence, all while watching technology make it easier to access dangerous weapons,” said Halle Norenburg, a volunteer with University of Washington Students Demand Action. “By signing HB 2320, Washington leaders are showing that they hear us, and that they’re willing to act to protect our future.”

Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, along with gun violence survivors, showed up repeatedly throughout the legislative process to advocate for this bill—testifying at hearings, meeting with lawmakers, and urging action to address the rise of untraceable firearms. Their advocacy was instrumental in getting this critical legislation across the finish line and signed into law.