A 19-year-old Illinois resident, Zavien James Ross, received a sentence of 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release yesterday, October 11. Ross plead guilty to possessing machineguns, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made two purchases from Ross in November 2022 during their investigation. From these transactions, they bought nine 3D-printed Glock switches and one 3D-printed auto-sear for an AR-15 rifle. These pieces of machinery can convert semi-automatic firearms to fully automatic machineguns, as specified in the press statement.
ATF's investigation also revealed a 3D printer, five additional 3D printed Glock switches, and two 3D printed pistol lower receivers in Ross's home. Availability of 3D printing technology has stirred up issues regarding its use for illegal weapons creation. This development in technology provides a way for individuals to bypass laws and easily manufacture firearm components.
Ross's case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), launched on May 26, 2021. This initiative aims to combine resources of law enforcement, community organizations, and citizens to discourage violent crime and gun violence at the community level.
Regardless of the PSN initiative's intentions, the challenges posed by 3D-printed weapons may not be adequately addressed by the project. The capability to conveniently create illegal, untraceable weapons could potentially aggravate the existing patterns of gun violence in the nation.
As evidenced by this case, the ever-evolving issue of firearm trafficking demands a diverse set of strategies to counteract gun violence effectively.
