3-D printed firearm fired for the first time.

[Shane for Wax]

I'm not sure how comfortable I am at the prospect of even a plastic gun being 3D printed.

But it is still pretty nifty, I admit.

[Dakota Bob]

Next time I get the urge to assassinate a politician with a disposable gun, I'll be sure to hit this guy up.

[Distind]

Next time I get the urge to assassinate a politician with a disposable gun, I'll be sure to hit this guy up.

Be sure to aim for one that's mindlessly opposed all gun legislation yet does not understand the abilities of modern technology. He'll probably be the only one you could actually surprise.

[kefkaownsall]

This is a really bad idea 

[nickiknack]

Update: The files for the 3-D gun has been taken down by the request of the State Department

[Random Gal]

So how long before a 3D printer manages to print a second fully functional 3D printer?

Probably around the same time the gun that shoots guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns that shoot guns is invented.

[Damen]

Update: The files for the 3-D gun has been taken down by the request of the State Department

Further Update: They've already been downloaded more than 100,000 times (over 1 million, according to the designer) and are still available for download on MegaShare and ThePirateBay.

This genie is already out of the bottle and Congress and the media's flipping out over it has helped to spread word of it far more effectively than it would if no one but a few 3D printing enthusiasts had known. They've basically recreated what happened when the Glock was first introduced: got scared out of their minds over this new design, tried to ban it and ended up making it one of the most popular firearms around.

And Forbes actually wrote an article about why this could very well be a good thing.

The unease expressed over 3D-printed guns mirrors similar unease following the adoption of widespread cryptography for secure communications. Some opponents were concerned that ordinary Americans could use this technology to engage in criminal activities undetected by the government. In the 1990s, the Clinton administration pushed for the adoption of hardware backdoors to allow government to read otherwise secure e-mail as it saw fit. Even now, the FBI continues to seek wider powers to monitor citizens’ electronic communications on the grounds it’s necessary to stop terrorism.

Yes, the government has a legitimate role in stopping the misuse of cryptography for evil purposes, such as terrorist plots or the dissemination of digital contraband such as child pornography or pirated software. But that should not be a pretext for giving the government excessive power over innocuous private communications.

Similarly, government has a legitimate role in stopping gun crime. But this should not be a pretext for restricting 3D-printing technology.

Furthermore, University of Chicago professor (and co-author of the bestseller Freakonomics) Steve Levitt has noted that most proposed gun controls have minimal impact on gun crime. One of the few ideas that does work is enhanced prison sentences for crimes committed with a gun. According to Levitt, the gun laws that work are ones “where you’re not tying it to the gun itself, you’re tying it to the use of guns that you don’t want.” This makes perfect sense. The government should not punish gun ownership by responsible adults, nor legitimate sporting or self-defense uses. Instead, the government should punish the misuse of a gun by criminals.

So, yeah, I'm not especially worried about people making single shot pistols that'll blow apart on the second shot with larger caliber ammo and have a max number of about 10 times you can semi-safely shoot it; and with a barrel that short and made of plastic that'll ensure you might be able to hit a barn if you're inside it when you fire.

Frankly, I think this is much ado about nothing.

[Jack Mann]

It's honestly not that hard to make a homemade gun.  Just like this 3-d printed verstion, they tend to be single shot, or at least much less effective than a normal gun.  Hence why law enforcement has never made much move to restricting them.

[Shane for Wax]

It's honestly not that hard to make a homemade gun.  Just like this 3-d printed verstion, they tend to be single shot, or at least much less effective than a normal gun.  Hence why law enforcement has never made much move to restricting them.

Such as the Luty SMG. Which I just found out about last night cause some people I follow on tumblr talked about it in response to the 3-D printed one.

[Dakota Bob]

The guy who designed the gun apparently identifies as "crypto-anarchist" which just screams "asshole"

[Shane for Wax]

Luty? You should see the foreword he wrote in his instructions. Ahaha.

[worlder]

When can we expect an SMG?

Or something to compete with the AK for "Outlaw's Choice".

[Shane for Wax]

When can we expect an SMG?

Or something to compete with the AK for "Outlaw's Choice".

Once again: Luty

[worlder]

So I saw the video of this Luty gun.

Thankfully people with machining skills tend to find legitimate work with a high enough pay to not even consider a life of crime.

I hope.

[Askold]

http://areena.yle.fi/tv/1914496

One Finnish TV show had an episode about a 3-D printed pistol. They had the parts built in an university which had a 3d printer and then brought them to a gun smithing school where they did the finishing touches to the parts and assembled the pistol. Then they fired a 9x19mm shot with it which actually destroyed the pistol on the first shot.

...Not that suprising since the gun wasn't actually chambered for 9x19mm. I think it was meant for .380 or something like that, weaker load in any case.

So I saw the video of this Luty gun.

Thankfully people with machining skills tend to find legitimate work with a high enough pay to not even consider a life of crime.

I hope.

They might want the extra money in any case, they might just think that it is a fun project and in any case having the necessary skills is not the only deciding factor for finding employment, so they might actually use their skills for this if something (bad luck, alcoholism/other addiction, location, criminal record) prevents them from finding a job.

Not to mention that a person might just be part of some weird survivalist/insurrectionist group and build guns for them for the scenario where the society will collapse.

And some people who just want to watch the world burn.