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You Can't Print a Gun If You Have No 3D Printer
FatLittleMonkey writes "You may recall Cody Wilson's project to create a 3D printed gun, mentioned previously on Slashdot. Well, the Defense Distributed project has suffered a decidedly non-technical setback, with printer manufacturer Stratasys revoking the lease and repossessing the printer (presumably prying it from plastic models of Cory's cold dead hands). According to New Scientist, the manufacturer cited his lack of a federal firearms manufacturer's license as their reason for the repossession, adding that it does not knowingly allow its printers to be used for illegal purposes." Homemade firearms are not (in the U.S.) per se illegal on a federal basis, though states have varying degrees of regulation. It would be helpful if anyone more conversant with firearms law than me can point out what law or laws this project might be breaking.
You Can't Print a Gun If You Have No 3D Printer, How Can You Print a Gun If You Have No 3D Printer. You, Yes You Behind The Bike Shed, Stand Still Laddie!
Hoist Number One and Number Six.
If you read between the lines of Stratasys' statement, the company's president clearly says:
"For the love of god please don't give us this kind of press. If we don't shut this down now I'm going to have Homeland Security on, over and in my ass. Don't ever use gun and printed in the same sentence again. My hands are too delicate for jail. Why are you doing this to me?"
The first thing you should print when you get a 3d printer, is another 3d printer.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
lathes, grinders and millers all are subtractive processes.
the 3d printer is additi-
oh wait, you didn't meant it that way, did you?
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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
If you make a gun with a lathe, grinder, and milling machine, the gun will actually work.
Exactly. Printers don't kill projects, people do.
Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway. -- Andrew S. Tanenbaum
BS.
Q: Does the GCA prohibit anyone from making a handgun, shotgun or rifle? With certain exceptions a firearm may be made by a non-licensee provided it is not for sale and the maker is not prohibited from possessing firearms. However, a person is prohibited from assembling a non-sporting semi-automatic rifle or non-sporting shotgun from imported parts. In addition, the making of an NFA firearm requires a tax payment and approval by ATF. An application to make a machine gun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing that the firearm is being made for a Federal or State agency.
[18 U.S.C. 922(o) and (r), 26 U.S.C. 5822, 27 CFR 478.39, 479.62 and 479.105] link
Just curious (target shooter in gun-unfriendly Scotland here), what exactly makes it as "sporting" firearm? Does it give the target a 5 minute head start or something?
Yeah, but counterfeit bills don't kill people, guns kill- no, wait, guns don't counterfeit... people... and, um, kill counterfeit people, guns....
Forget the RP printers...or if you want to play, just have an RP job shop make your parts.
Yeah, but that wouldn't be cool and hip.
What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
Reading Slashdotters talk about guns is like listening to a bunch of nerds talk about sex.
Oh, wait...
Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra