NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Congressman Ritchie Torres called on Gov.Kathy Hochul to address loopholes in New York’s ghost gun laws after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was murdered, allegedly with a 3D-printed firearm.
In a letter sent Thursday, Torres urged Hochul to include legislation in her executive budget proposal to strengthen regulations on ghost guns.
“The probable use of a 3D-printed ghost gun by Luigi Mangione to assassinate Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, underscores the need for a complete and comprehensive prohibition of ghost guns in New York,” Torres wrote.
He continued, “I am respectfully calling upon you as Governor to include in your executive budget proposal legislation that closes the manufacturing loophole in ghost gun laws and closes the ghost gun loophole in gun manufacturing laws. No stone can be left unturned in New York’s fight against gun violence, which has been compounded by the proliferation of privately made firearms.”
Torres’ call to action comes after police arrested Mangione, 26, in Pennsylvania in connection with Thompson’s murder. Authorities were tipped off by a McDonald’s employee and customer who noticed Mangione behaving suspiciously. Police found a black, 3D-printed pistol with a metal slide, a threaded barrel, and a silencer in his backpack. These ghost guns, assembled at home and without serial numbers, are nearly impossible to trace.
According to the complaint, the weapon combined plastic and metal parts, illustrating how easily 3D printers can be used to produce functional firearms.
Torres pointed out two gaps in New York’s ghost gun laws. He explained that while the law bans the possession, sale, and transfer of ghost guns, it does not address the manufacturing of 3D-printed ghost guns. Additionally, while the law prohibits the manufacturing of assault rifles, high-capacity magazines, and machine guns, it does not extend this prohibition to 3D-printed ghost guns.
“The explosion of ghost guns onto the streets of New York and into the hands of dangerous people has led to an unprecedented crisis in public safety,” Torres wrote. “The barriers to using and manufacturing firearms are collapsing in real time, with deadly consequences for New Yorkers.”
Governor Hochul’s office fiercely pushed back against Torres’ criticism, defending her administration’s actions against ghost guns. “Congressman Torres needs to do his homework,” a spokesperson for Hochul’s office told 1010 WINS. “While Congress has failed to meaningfully regulate ghost guns, Governor Hochul passed nation-leading ghost gun protections that are already being used to prosecute criminals who manufacture ghost guns in New York.”
“Under Governor Hochul's leadership, the New York State Police has arrested more people for ghost guns than ever before, and gun violence statewide is at historic lows after a pandemic-era spike,” the spokesperson said. “Governor Hochul is ready to work with anyone who is serious about public safety and isn’t looking to score cheap political points.”
State law already criminalizes the manufacturing of undetectable firearms, including 3D-printed ghost guns, under Penal Law 265.50, according to sources.
The exchange adds to the growing tensions between Torres and Hochul, as the Bronx congressman has hinted at a potential primary challenge against the governor in 2026. Torres last month publicly criticized Hochul, calling her “ineffective” and stating that he is “thinking long and hard about my future.”