So you can 3D print guns now...

[SullyMcGully]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/07/31/in-last-minute-lawsuit-states-say-3-d-printable-guns-pose-national-security-threat/

I'm interested in hearing what y'all think of this. Not as much "what should the government do" or "such-and-such politician is an idiot" but more like, how do we react to a world where people can download deadly weapons from the internet? This has heavy repercussions for existing measures concerning gun control, as anyone with a 3D printer could get a gun using these blueprints. Also, it would be nearly impossible to stop on the internet level. We can't stop people from downloading porn or roms, so how can we successfully keep people from downloading literal weapons off of the internet?

[Killthestory]

shoot back

[Johann]

From what I've heard, plastic guns themselves aren't very durable due to how weak plastic is compared to steel. They can't really do multiple shots because the barrel would melt and can't be reloaded, but a person could still take a single shot and just discard the gun.

[Dragoncat]

31 minutes ago, Johann said:

From what I've heard, plastic guns themselves aren't very durable due to how weak plastic is compared to steel. They can't really do multiple shots because the barrel would melt and can't be reloaded, but a person could still take a single shot and just discard the gun.

Yeah but they wouldn't be able to kill as many people as someone with a steel assault rifle. So...if this is true and plastic guns aren't as durable...food for thought.

Also 3d printers cost an arm and a leg and a first born child, so...I doubt every Tom, Dick, and Harry would be able to print a gun.

Edited August 1, 2018 by Dragoncat

[Johann]

39 minutes ago, Dragoncat said:

Yeah but they wouldn't be able to kill as many people as someone with a steel assault rifle. So...if this is true and plastic guns aren't as durable...food for thought.

Also 3d printers cost an arm and a leg and a first born child, so...I doubt every Tom, Dick, and Harry would be able to print a gun.

I think part of the allure is that they'd be easier to conceal as well

[Dr. Tarrasque]

The good: The NRA will fight to prevent 3D printed guns which will further demonstrate the public that's paying attention the truth that the NRA doesn't give a shit about the 2nd amendment and it's all about the donors and the money. It's stuff that's already been established in the past but with the Parkland shooting, gun control issues have a greater chance of staying afloat and relevant.

The bad: I think concealment point is the big one here and although these guns aren't reliable and efficient as well as expensive now, who's to say that's always going to stay true? Print these shapes where they do not come across as a gun in an airport scanner and you've got 3D printed disasters.

[eclipse]

This isn't a new thing.  I'd be far more concerned with 3D-printed fingerprints.

[Captain Karnage]

The problem is that these are ineffective and will most likely not fire and blow up in your hand if you attempt to fire them. Even if you try to kill someone with one of those you could probably only do it at point blank range, and the person who fired it will lose a couple of fingers and have some shards blow into them.

[XRay]

I am fine with it. I am not concerned about it. Although the United States has the highest gun violence in the developed world, the chances of actually getting shot in real life is still pretty low, so beyond licensing and training I am against pushing for more drastic control.

[Anime27Arts]

As someone who has had access to a 3D printer, its a highly inconvenient situation.  Firstly, a 3D printed gun is essentially a one shot gun that can be shot once and not again.  The heat involved when firing melts down the plastic. You have to keep in mind, 3D printing is just a machine super heating plastic to form shapes sent to it by a computer. Secondly, 3D printers and the wheels of plastic to put in them are extremely expensive. Depending on the model, the printer can go for about $400- $4,000 USD and each wheel of about one kg of plastic is about $25. Depending on the gun printed, that could be the whole thing of plastic. Now for the logistics of printing a gun. I have seen one printed, although it was not one meant to be fired. We printed a copy of the gun used in Trigun, and this small gun came in many, many pieces that had to be carefully assembled. Larger guns that are built to be more than just for show will take more assembly.  There's also how much time it takes to print said gun. This gun took approximately 10 days to make, give or take, and it was much smaller than more advanced models. So basically it comes down to is worth 10 days to make a one shot gun? I personally do not think its worth it when people are able to 3D print molds to help create working organs to help people in need of an important organ in their body.

[Rapier]

3D printer guns are unwieldy, terribly inaccurate, expensive, require plenty of plastic and, really, it's easier to buy a gun (particularly if you're in the US, what with 'muh constituxon rights') or get one illegaly than go through the hassle of building a 3D printed plastic gun.

[The_antithesis]

Probably not going to be a big deal, even after they become useful. One would still need an explosive to fire the gun, which could be traced.

[JJ48]

Honestly, if someone really, really wanted to make a single-shot gun instead of just buying one for whatever reason (e.g. restricted person), it would be much easier (and probably cheaper) to just machine one out of steel.  Some people may argue that they're less detectable, but from what I've seen, the thickness of the plastic (especially around the barrel) means they're far less concealable than a compact or sub-compact, so they're really only less detectable if you're talking about metal detectors.  To that end, how many places do you frequent that have metal detectors and no other security precautions, anyway?  Airports X-ray luggage and have body scanners, so the lack of metal wouldn't really help. 

No, personally, I think 3D-printed guns are simply a novelty.  The only new danger they introduce is the possibility of someone constructing one incorrectly or using the wrong plastic and having bits of it blow up that shouldn't.  And if we're going to worry about dangers just because of a lack of standards, we should worry about any DIY project.