5 ms·

Part of me is somewhat worried. Part of me recognizes that a 3D printed firearm is hardly very practical, consider it's easy enough to get a real firearm, even

Part of me is somewhat worried. Part of me recognizes that a 3D printed firearm is hardly very practical, consider it's easy enough to get a real firearm, even for convicted criminals. (I'm speaking of the US here.) What keeps people in the US from going on shooting rampages is not the difficulty of getting guns. It's the fact that most people don't want to go on shooting rampages. And while I'd much prefer it if guns were banned in this country, in the end, I'm not planning to lose any sleep over it. I'm far more likely to die in a car accident, even without adjusting for risk factors like where I live or my lack of involvement in criminal activity. So if I want to worry about something, I'll focus on driving more carefully. Anyway, there's precious little you can do to stop 3D printed firearms from eventually being available. Betting against progress is rarely safe, especially in this domain where it's pretty obvious how things are going to go.

foundersgrid 12y ago
I wholeheartedly agree. Very worrying times when mentally unstable people can start printing guns and bullets at home. Vice has a documentary on 3D guns if you haven't seen it already.
- hiou 12y ago
  Its not really at home but the black market, like the guy at the bar that sells drugs and knows a guy who prints guns. Or that shady cell phone shop if you know what to ask for. It becomes much, much easier to become an unlicensed gun dealer with 3D printed firearms. DVD burners resulted in a lot of black market dealers as opposed to simply people making the copies themselves at home.
drmilsurp 12y ago
I just don't understand the appeal. As far as firearms go, the last thing I want is one that can not be relied upon. I get that solving technical challenges is fun but in this case, to what end? To make practical home-built firearms? Boys in Afghanistan are making practical ak-47's with little more than a file, scrap and tenacity. If you want to build a firearm (semi-auto) at home in the US it isn't even illegal.
- refurb 12y ago
  If you want to build a firearm (semi-auto) at home in the US it isn't even illegal. Incorrect. The only limitation is you can't make an NFA weapon (automatic, etc) or build it out of more than 10 imported parts. "Firearms may be lawfully made by persons who do not hold a manufacturer’s license under the GCA provided they are not for sale or distribution and the maker is not prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms. "[1] [1]http://www.atf.gov/files/firearms/industry/0501-firearms-top-10-qas.pdf http://www.atf.gov/files/firearms/industry/0501-firearms-top...
  - jMyles 12y ago
    So you are disputing that it's not illegal? Or something?
    - adrianpike 12y ago
      I think they likely misparsed the parent comment. :)
      - refurb 12y ago
        Haha... yup, misread the parent!
newaccountfool 12y ago
Can I ask what the problem would be then? If it's already easy to get, and the thing stopping people going on rampages is themselves, then sureley there is no difference from how it currently is?

foundersgrid 12y ago

I wholeheartedly agree. Very worrying times when mentally unstable people can start printing guns and bullets at home. Vice has a documentary on 3D guns if you haven't seen it already.

hiou 12y ago
Its not really at home but the black market, like the guy at the bar that sells drugs and knows a guy who prints guns. Or that shady cell phone shop if you know what to ask for. It becomes much, much easier to become an unlicensed gun dealer with 3D printed firearms. DVD burners resulted in a lot of black market dealers as opposed to simply people making the copies themselves at home.

drmilsurp 12y ago

I just don't understand the appeal. As far as firearms go, the last thing I want is one that can not be relied upon. I get that solving technical challenges is fun but in this case, to what end? To make practical home-built firearms? Boys in Afghanistan are making practical ak-47's with little more than a file, scrap and tenacity. If you want to build a firearm (semi-auto) at home in the US it isn't even illegal.

refurb 12y ago
If you want to build a firearm (semi-auto) at home in the US it isn't even illegal. Incorrect. The only limitation is you can't make an NFA weapon (automatic, etc) or build it out of more than 10 imported parts. "Firearms may be lawfully made by persons who do not hold a manufacturer’s license under the GCA provided they are not for sale or distribution and the maker is not prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms. "[1] [1]http://www.atf.gov/files/firearms/industry/0501-firearms-top-10-qas.pdf http://www.atf.gov/files/firearms/industry/0501-firearms-top...
- jMyles 12y ago
  So you are disputing that it's not illegal? Or something?
  - adrianpike 12y ago
    I think they likely misparsed the parent comment. :)
    - refurb 12y ago
      Haha... yup, misread the parent!

newaccountfool 12y ago

Can I ask what the problem would be then? If it's already easy to get, and the thing stopping people going on rampages is themselves, then sureley there is no difference from how it currently is?