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>In theory, the technology essentially allows offenders to produce their own guns in the privacy of their own home, which they can then supply to the criminal g

>In theory, the technology essentially allows offenders to produce their own guns in the privacy of their own home, which they can then supply to the criminal gangs who are causing such misery in our communities. Meanwhile, anyone can create a (subpar) .22 machine gun in their garage. >If what we have seized is proven to be viable components capable of constructing a genuine firearm, then it demonstrates that organised crime groups are acquiring technology that can be bought on the high street to produce the next generation of weapons. Just like its namesake the Liberator is clumsy. Criminal intent or not, and aside from the plastic aspect, people are going to prefer a weapon that's actually reliable.

mcantelon 13y ago
Exactly. Improvised firearms have been around for nearly a century, if not longer.
hahainternet 13y ago
> Meanwhile, anyone can create a (subpar) .22 machine gun in their garage. Really? This is your argument? That's like saying anyone can construct a nuke in their basement so all explosives regulations are silly.
- intslack 13y ago
  No, not anyone can just build a nuke in their basement. The Chinese struggled for years until they liquored Richard Feynman up and he accidentally let an idea slip that led to them getting the bomb. Anyone that has a garage and tools can easily, and again I want to emphasize easily, construct a makeshift shotgun or machine gun. Your position is essentially the same one that enables the (never ending) war on drugs. I don't disagree with gun and weapon regulations, but the UK and AU stance is just laughable. Their violent crime per capita has somehow increased as well making the UK the most violent nation: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/cfi/101-120/cfi115.html http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/cfi/101-...
  - hahainternet 13y ago
    You didn't even read the summary: > Rather than indicating a sharp rise in actual violence, however, this increase is largely the direct result of major changes to the way crime data are recorded in the England and Wales. First in 1998 and then again in 2002, amendments were introduced to include a broader range of offences, to promote greater consistency, and to take a more victim-led approach where alleged offences were recorded as well as evidence-based ones Stop pushing an agenda.
    - intslack 13y ago
      Sorry, you are right, thought that study took into account the difference in crime reporting. I'm busy deploying to a server and didn't bother to read the summary. >Stop pushing an agenda Your assumption that I have an agenda is also laughable. I do not own a firearm.
  - JonnieCache 13y ago
    The Chinese struggled for years until they liquored Richard Feynman up and he accidentally let an idea slip that led to them getting the bomb. I'm sorry, but teasing us like this is just unacceptable. Dirt, please, or at least a reference for where we can find it.
    - intslack 13y ago
      I must be scrambled today because I cannot find it, he "contributed" to their getting the bomb but they also had a lot of help so I overstated his importance. I'll try getting back to you later, it might've been in a biography of his, 'Sun in a Bottle', or one of his interviews where he talks about some meeting with Chinese scientists. Apologies.
cmdkeen 13y ago
Just because anyone could doesn't mean that is how criminals operate - your average firearm toting gangster in the UK is not technologically smart. There was a major case a few years back when an armourer got busted for reactivating firearms bought from mainland Europe. He was producing fully automatic Mac-10s and selling them for a few hundred pounds. Unsurprisingly he received life in prison as they had been used in several murders. The UK, despite strict laws on firearm ownership, already has a problem whereby organised crime can acquire firearms - 3D printing is not going to be that much of a game changer.

mcantelon 13y ago

Exactly. Improvised firearms have been around for nearly a century, if not longer.

hahainternet 13y ago

> Meanwhile, anyone can create a (subpar) .22 machine gun in their garage. Really? This is your argument? That's like saying anyone can construct a nuke in their basement so all explosives regulations are silly.

intslack 13y ago
No, not anyone can just build a nuke in their basement. The Chinese struggled for years until they liquored Richard Feynman up and he accidentally let an idea slip that led to them getting the bomb. Anyone that has a garage and tools can easily, and again I want to emphasize easily, construct a makeshift shotgun or machine gun. Your position is essentially the same one that enables the (never ending) war on drugs. I don't disagree with gun and weapon regulations, but the UK and AU stance is just laughable. Their violent crime per capita has somehow increased as well making the UK the most violent nation: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/cfi/101-120/cfi115.html http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/cfi/101-...
- hahainternet 13y ago
  You didn't even read the summary: > Rather than indicating a sharp rise in actual violence, however, this increase is largely the direct result of major changes to the way crime data are recorded in the England and Wales. First in 1998 and then again in 2002, amendments were introduced to include a broader range of offences, to promote greater consistency, and to take a more victim-led approach where alleged offences were recorded as well as evidence-based ones Stop pushing an agenda.
  - intslack 13y ago
    Sorry, you are right, thought that study took into account the difference in crime reporting. I'm busy deploying to a server and didn't bother to read the summary. >Stop pushing an agenda Your assumption that I have an agenda is also laughable. I do not own a firearm.
- JonnieCache 13y ago
  The Chinese struggled for years until they liquored Richard Feynman up and he accidentally let an idea slip that led to them getting the bomb. I'm sorry, but teasing us like this is just unacceptable. Dirt, please, or at least a reference for where we can find it.
  - intslack 13y ago
    I must be scrambled today because I cannot find it, he "contributed" to their getting the bomb but they also had a lot of help so I overstated his importance. I'll try getting back to you later, it might've been in a biography of his, 'Sun in a Bottle', or one of his interviews where he talks about some meeting with Chinese scientists. Apologies.

cmdkeen 13y ago

Just because anyone could doesn't mean that is how criminals operate - your average firearm toting gangster in the UK is not technologically smart. There was a major case a few years back when an armourer got busted for reactivating firearms bought from mainland Europe. He was producing fully automatic Mac-10s and selling them for a few hundred pounds. Unsurprisingly he received life in prison as they had been used in several murders. The UK, despite strict laws on firearm ownership, already has a problem whereby organised crime can acquire firearms - 3D printing is not going to be that much of a game changer.