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(Image source: Defense Distributed)
BY NICHOLE CARTMELL AND NATHAN BYRNE
The U.S. government is cracking down on 3D-printed guns — saying online sharing of the files
used to make the guns might violate exporting restrictions. The State Department issued
a letter to Defense Distributed — the nonprofit group sharing those files. (Via WNYW)
In that letter, the State Department expressed concern the file-sharing may have violated
international regulations designed to keep gun-making tools away from what The Verge
called "blacklisted countries" — listing China and Cuba.
According to Mashable— Defense Distributed's founder, Cody Wilson, complied and took down
the blueprints. At that time the files had been downloaded 100,000 times in just a couple
of days.
But a BBC science reporter points out, "with more than 100,000 downloads already, the designs
have already been widely circulated, and there is now little that can be done to halt their
spread."
The fear here, according to CNET, is that with this technology anyone could theoretically
print their own firearm, leaving little room for regulation — which is driving politicians
to take action.
The federal government stepped in only a day after Democratic California state Sen. Leland
Yee introduced legislation to ban the technology used to create 3D-printed guns. Others like
Rep. Steve Israel are also looking to restrict the manufacture of them. (Via KOVR)
But some anti-gun violence advocates feel these fears might be unsubstantiated. The
communications director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence asked ...
"Could someone considering a terrorist (or criminal) act buy a 3D printer, download the
files, experiment [with them] and go through the full process to make one gun, not knowing
how many times it will fire? Probably not." (Via CNET)
For now, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives holds that any American
can make a gun for their own use, but selling it requires a license.