Friday, May 10, 2013

On 3D Printed Firearms

At the order of the US Government, the design for the first completely 3D printed gun has been taken off of the internet, because it may violate arms-control regulations. Ignoring for the moment the sheer inanity of trying to get rid of something that has already been downloaded by more than 100,000 people, and which has already shown up on The Pirate Bay, let us consider:
Putting the design for a weapon on the internet, where anyone can download it, and can, with access to the right tools and materials make said weapon, is a violation of international arms-control regulations?
While those who buy The Handgun or The Do It Yourself Submachine Gun will need access to more expensive tools, a JACO Pistol can be made with tools that most Americans have in their garages.
While the tools are different, the 3D printer required for  the Liberator 3D printed gun is quite a bit more expensive than the tools required to make a JACO Pistol, which has pretty much the same function as the Liberator, being a single shot pistol.

The design for a firearm is not the same thing as a firearm - Defense Distributed wasn't making firearms, they were making firearms blueprints - and given how many other firearm designs exist on the internet, given that the Liberator is not an effective firearm (unless your goal is to get a reaction), and given that someone with a normal garage can build a firearm that is just as effective as the Liberator, and that someone with a well-equipped garage can make a fully or semi-automatic firearm with ease, the Federal Government's actions are just plain stupid.

Sources:
http://casualshooter.blogspot.com/2011/10/diy-firearms.html
http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2013/05/07/the-shot-heard-around-the-world-from-a-3d-printed-firearm/
http://defdist.tumblr.com/post/49768758853/the-liberator
http://defcad.org/liberator/
http://englishrussia.com/2007/06/04/chechen-self-made-weapons/
Google Search on "make a zip gun"

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