Do not attribute to malice what can be attributed to stupidity needs amending. Do not attribute to malice what can be attributed to stupidity, and do not attribute to stupidity what can be attributed to a powerful, well organized and funded lobby.
Recently, there was an article discussing the legality of using 3D printers to make firearms and deadly weapons. A man was charged for violating export laws by sharing his own 3D printer coordinate codes online, which could make working firearms with the appropriate materials put into a capable machine. With the argument that code is free speech, the gunsmith argued that restricting the sharing and distribution of weapon codes violates his first amendment, and he won. The Department of Justice modified the law so that 3d printer codes for weapons under .50 caliber are legal to share online.
This sets an already possible scenario where anyone can legally download weapon blueprints from the internet and legally purchase all the required materials to produce deadly rifles, handguns, ammo, and possibly even improvised explosives, all in a matter of hours.
We're still pretty far away from instant weapon vendors outside of people's houses and in dark alleys, but I think this ruling could throw a big monkey wrench in modern gun control in America.
Recently, there was an article discussing the legality of using 3D printers to make firearms and deadly weapons. A man was charged for violating export laws by sharing his own 3D printer coordinate codes online, which could make working firearms with the appropriate materials put into a capable machine. With the argument that code is free speech, the gunsmith argued that restricting the sharing and distribution of weapon codes violates his first amendment, and he won. The Department of Justice modified the law so that 3d printer codes for weapons under .50 caliber are legal to share online.
This sets an already possible scenario where anyone can legally download weapon blueprints from the internet and legally purchase all the required materials to produce deadly rifles, handguns, ammo, and possibly even improvised explosives, all in a matter of hours.
We're still pretty far away from instant weapon vendors outside of people's houses and in dark alleys, but I think this ruling could throw a big monkey wrench in modern gun control in America.
Correction: somebody already tested that you CAN buy the spare parts of a weapon from any online shopping sites and build that weapon; the said weapon does not need ownership certificate because 1: it was not bought from any stores, and 2: it counts as homemade project.
You do realize that with just a lathe, some machining tools, and steel pipes you can make a shotgun? Well, one that would be a hazard to both the shooter and anyone down range of that gun, but it'll still shoot on its first pull of the trigger.
Then, of course, we have the ballpoint pen zipguns that come dime a dozen. It's getting to the point where the least problematic firearms restriction is to limit the purchase of ammunition, since gunpowder is the hardest part to manufacture reliably...
You do realize that with just a lathe, some machining tools, and steel pipes you can make a shotgun? Well, one that would be a hazard to both the shooter and anyone down range of that gun, but it'll still shoot on its first pull of the trigger.
Then, of course, we have the ballpoint pen zipguns that come dime a dozen. It's getting to the point where the least problematic firearms restriction is to limit the purchase of ammunition, since gunpowder is the hardest part to manufacture reliably...
*Checks the internet*
...Nevermind!
That's quite a bit different from a robot using an AR-15 blueprint to produce a gun in your home while you go out for Subway sandwiches.