3-D Printing Guns and Their Problems

Every generation looks back and marvels at how things changed over time.

Advancements in technology, regardless of discipline or subculture, transform our world. Within the past decade, the 3-D printer is one such mechanism that is changing the way humans live.

YouTube 3-D printer and you will peruse a bevy of videos depicting its marvellous capabilities. You will undoubtedly question whether what you’re watching is real or a deep fake. I assure you, these videos are real.

Virtually anything can be printed with enough time and the right printer; even guns.

The first gun was created by a 3-D printer in 2013 by Cody Wilson, founder of Defense Distributed.

In May 2013, Wilson designed his prototype using a 3-D printer and released the design drawings of the gun online. Worth mentioning; Wilson is a crusader for public access to guns with a checkered past. Google the name and you will assuredly uncover a flawed man.

Nonetheless, his act of ingenuity opened up the proverbial can of worms. 

Since 2013, ghost guns, termed as such due to the inability to trace them, have grown in popularity.

What is a ghost gun exactly?

In simplest terms, a gun that is created by a 3-D printer that any Average Joe can will into existence with the right printer. The process itself is arduous, time-consuming, and far from an exact science.

Furthermore, without the proper expertise and skill set, it is a futile and fruitless endeavour that can pinch one’s wallet.

These weapons are idiosyncratic and were not manufactured by reputable gun companies. They don’t have serial numbers.  This is problematic, to say the least, and has garnered the attention of the ATF and other Government agencies.

Regardless of which side of the gun ideology one identifies with, a degree of rationalism leads to the following conclusion: untraceable guns have no place in society.

Contrary to how the mainstream media depicts gun owners [anarchists bordering on insane], the majority are responsible, law-abiding citizens. In addition, most believe in a proper sequence of events when purchasing a firearm. 

3-D printing a gun from home negates the checks and balances that make gun ownership in America safe. Moreover, the likelihood of these weapons falling into the wrong hands increases exponentially when manufactured from home.

Remember, ghost guns have no serial numbers — a welcome byproduct to the enterprising criminal in search of any advantage.

Consequently, between 2016-2020, authorities acquired 24,000 Ghost Guns at crime scenes. This statistic is sure to increase as more individuals have access to 3-D printers today than ever before.

3-D printing guns are growing in popularity. Just last year, 3-D-printed gun enthusiasts met in Florida to both share, and fire their designs. They even competed to see who the most accurate shot was. 

This subculture of gun enthusiasts views home-assembled firearms as an art form. Many of the guns they showcase are eye-popping with varying color schemes. Their designs are original and pulsate with creativity. 

However, one glaring shortcoming is the actual performance of these guns.

Oftentimes, the guns jam and don’t fire properly. Imagine a real-world scenario where a viable threat exists and it’s a coin flip if your firearm discharges or not. 

Life or death moments aren’t the time to employ chance. I want a sure thing when it’s me or some bad guy who wishes to inflict harm on me or my loved ones. 

Just one reason why steering clear from home-assembled firearms is the prudent course of action if it is protection you covet.

Gun ownership is a serious business. In fact, no other product demands the same vigilance from its consumers the way guns do.

In closing, when viewed as an art form or form of self-expression, home-assembled firearms through the use of 3-D printing are not a problem.

However, in practice, these guns create a set of variables that threaten the way we live. Some may call this alarmist rhetoric or catastrophic thinking. I call it realistic and responsible. Guns are dangerous by default. Manufacturing them at your discretion without serial numbers is not only irresponsible but incredibly reckless.

Our current system works. We exercise our God-given right to purchase guns with a degree of transparency that makes everyone safer.

RECENT FINDINGS

Home-assembled firearms continue to increase in popularity

No serial numbers = no easy way for authorities to track down the owner or manufacturer

They jam often; nowhere near an exact science

Ghost Guns are showing up in droves in Europe where laws and gun ownership are extremely strict

Gun control is a fantasy moving forward when it comes to Ghost Guns

Most designers/ owners are young men who feel alienated

3D – Printed guns are no longer just a hobby; they are becoming weapons used in crime