New law for New York aims to stop 3D printed ghost guns

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- A new law takes effect in New York next week aimed at stopping 3D-printed ghost guns.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg explained how this law could be a game-changer for approaching gun prevention at every level.

"Manufacturers can't have the capacity in their printers to print 3D guns. It could be a complete game changer in this space," Bragg said.

As National Gun Violence Awareness Month reaches full steam, a groundbreaking New York State gun law is going into effect, crafted in partnership with manufacturers of 3D printers.

"We're going to put technology into our machines such that they will not be a 3D gun. Much like, you know, we don't have, you know, commercial printers that print US currency. Right? So we're going to be limited in the same way. I'm so happy to be able to report now, as of last week, that's going to be the law of the land in New York state, Bragg said.

"The hope is that, other local localities and other states look to us for innovative ideas. And they look and they say, okay, we're going to start to do this. Then the printers that could be a nationwide adoption," Bragg said.

Especially with the added threat of 3D printing a switch that converts a handgun into a semiautomatic weapon, like the one used in the fatal shooting of a Harlem woman last August.

"In the case of YouTube, you know, we had, cases with young people. We said how did learn how to build a 3D gun? And they said they were watching, gun-based video games like Call of Duty on YouTube and, you know, click, click, click. Lo and behold, now they're being shown instructions on how to build, a 3D gun. And in response to our outreach, they changed the algorithm," Bragg said.

But on the streets of New York, where shooting sare at an all-time low, the community-based outreach might be the most impactful.

"Spending time with our, our kids, our youth. I always find that to be invigorating, to hear from them. You know what they're seeing, what they're hearing and what they're doing, you know, that is very heartwarming," Bragg said.

This Saturday, the Manhattan DA's office is hosting another cash for gun buyback event at Central Baptist Church on W92nd Street, no questions asked.

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.