What Can We Do About This?

[youngmafbog]

http://news.sky.com/story/1159349/police-find-first-3d-gun-printing-factory

It can be done, how long before terrorists use them?

[andy-hughes]

It will take until the 'bugs' are ironed out of the production process - at the moment, you are as likely to get your hand blown off as you are to actually shoot anything or anyone.

[emmie]

and when it has passed muster, how many, wonder can they be detected in luggage? going through airport detectors will be a hoot won't it, if they can't be.

[andy-hughes]

It is a worrying idea YMB, I al not sure why anyone thought that making a gun this way was a good idea in the first place.

Of all the objects that could be designed and made in 3-D, why does one of the earliest have to be a weapon?

That's human nature Isuppose.

[anotheoldgit]

These 3D printers look awesome and they can be obtained for as little as just under £700, although it seems frightening what they can be made to produce.

/// Access thousands of premade designs, ready for you to download and print! Whether it is iPhone case, cup, door stop, lego, mini statue, stand, bottle, shoe, anything you can imagine! ///

Those are the sort of things they are made to print, as they become even more affordable, can we envisage little 'cottage industries' springing up all over the place?

Will it worry China?

[jno]

because weapons are hard to get otherwise, andy ?

There was a David Cronenberg film (Existenz?) where crims used weapons made from bone as these didn't set off alarms at airport security.

[LazyGun]

I just do not think they are anywhere near reliable enough to be seriously considered for a terrorist attack. There are other factors, too. These weapons are just one-shot and then reload items, so good luck menacing a crowd with one of these. And secondly, you still would have to smuggle your ammunition past the security sensors - Not something that would be easy to do.

I am seriously unconvinced of their threat potential, to be honest.

[jim360]

The same problem was discussed earlier, here:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1240335.html

[youngmafbog]

Sorry jim, my memory is not that good :-). This is kind of a differnet bent given first time found in UK though

[jim360]

I probably wouldn't have remembered it either, had I not been OP in that thread -- still, it has some useful opinions, and seems relevant, so I thought it best to link it here.

[Zacs-Master]

The York ASDA outlet is trialing 3D ceramic objects including mini statues of yourself for £40. A unique Christmas present eh?

[jake-the-peg]

If you want an improvised firearm there are many many better ones than this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvised_firearm

'Zip guns' have been made in the states for years - access to ammunition is the key factor

That is equally an issue with 'printed' guns

What is different about these is that they are harder to detect with metal detectors

They are also 'one shot only'

This means that effectively printed firearms are a bit of a niche concern - something to be worried over by airport security perhaps but not exactly a huge risk on the streets

[heathfield]

Er, the parts may not be those of a gun, but part of a 3D printer instead...

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24467-uks-first-3d-printed-gun-is-not-what-it-seems.html#.UmqG4VOeiuk

[jno]

the Jackal only needed one shot, didn't he?

Of course, he missed.

[LazyGun]

I am having trouble envisioning any situation where a 1-shot plastic gun,which needs reloading after shot, and is as likely as not to blow your own hand off represents a significant threat worth worrying about.

In the US, regular arms and ammo are far easier to acquire, and are probably cheaper too if you are factoring in the cost of the printer and acccessories.

In the UK, much easier to get yourself a shotgun. Ammunition is the problem- and anyone in the UK who has access to ammunition will also have access to regular guns.

Passing through security scanners? Again, to where? How is a one-shot plastic gun going to aid you in hijacking a plane, or robbing a bank? And how do you plan to get your ammunition past the scanners?

I really am having problems getting unduly concerned about these things...

[jno]

that's interesting, heathfield, so maybe instead of the Jackal they hired someone from IT by mistake?

[heathfield]

Maybe HR instead, Jno?

[Gromit]

Ha ha.

Turns out the parts found near this 3D printer are printer parts.