Federal judge strikes down ATF 'ghost gun' rule for 3D printed parts — says restrictions violate Fifth Amendment and historical tradition of DIY gunsmithing
Judge Reed O'Connor of the Northern District of Texas said that the ATF ruling that putting part kits that can easily be turned into firearms in the same category as actual guns is unconstitutional. He also said that the vagueness of some parts of the rule violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
Federal Judge Reed O'Connor has overturned an ATF regulation that required 3D printed parts for firearms to be subject to the same regulations as complete guns. The decision, made by U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, asserts that the rule contradicts early American historical traditions of DIY gunsmithing and violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
The ATF implemented the rule in 2022, mandating background checks for part kits that can be transformed into functional weapons, as well as defining firearm frames and receivers, and requiring serial numbers for 3D-printed and non-serialized firearms. The ruling, which has sparked controversy in the 3D printing community, is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and potentially the Supreme Court.
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