Controlling the Herd

Lawmakers Attempt to Ban 3D Printed Guns on National Security Grounds

Lawmakers are seeking to make plastic 3D printed weapons a listed national security threat, which opens the door for legislation and control of such weapons.

Chris Carrington

Published on

November 15, 2013

The Undetectable Firearms Act was passed in 1988 and updated in 1998 and again in 2003. The Act demands that all plastic firearms have enough metal components to trigger a metal detector.

The Act expires at midnight on December 9th 2013.

Lawmakers are seeking to make plastic 3D printed weapons a listed national security threat, which opens the door for legislation and control of such weapons.

On Wednesday at a press conference organized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, agents condemned plastic guns. Earl Griffin, Chief of firearms technology at the ATF said:

“The bottom line is, the penetration results demonstrated that the Liberator is a lethal weapon.”

“The .380 bullets fired from the Liberator penetrate sufficiently to reach vital organs and perforate the skull.” (source)

Republican Congressman Steve Israel is presenting a bill making it law that all 3D printed plastic guns have to have a steel component within them. The bill is supported by both Republicans and Democrats. Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer said:

“The expiration of this law, combined with advances in 3D-printing, make what was once a hypothetical threat into a terrifying realit.,”

“We are actively exploring all options to pass legislation that will eliminate the problem,” he promised. (source)

Police in California recently shot and killed a 13 year old boy carrying an AK-47 replica and police feel that 3D plastic guns, even those incapable of firing a bullet, will increase the number of such incidents.