The Liberator, 3D printed gun (via Defense Distributed)
It’s finally been accomplished, and you can bet on the fact that many others will adapt and improve on the method to manufacture them in their own shops. Yes I am talking about the controversial topic of 3D printed firearms and while some hobbyists have attempted to build their own polymer weapons, albeit with a few metal parts (HaveBlue’s and Travis Lerol’s AR-15 lower receiver to name a few), one company has succeeded in making a functioning firearm using nothing but plastic. (This is not just a gun piece, but nearly the whole weapon)
Known as the ‘Liberator’, the weapon was designed and constructed by Defense Distributed and features a total of 16 pieces of which 15 are polymer with the exception of the firing pin (which is just a common nail). The weapon was printed-up using a second-hand Stratasys Dimension SST 3D printer (costing $8,000 US) along with ABS filament, which was even used for the gun’s barrel, which can be changed out depending on the caliber of the bullet desired. Actually, the gun does feature another piece of metal which is a 6-ounce piece embedded into the weapons frame for the purpose of being detected by airport metal detectors, which is required by the ATF as outlined in the UFA (Undetectable Firearms Act). The controversial non-profit organization has recently received their FFL (Federal Firearms License) license, which makes them a legal manufacturer of guns in the US.
Getting their license will surely cut down on the company’s headaches as earlier endeavors to manufacture weapons using 3D printed parts has netted them some pretty staunch backlash both from the printer manufacturers themselves (Stratyasys seized their rented equipment after learning what it was being used for) and also from New York Congressman Steve Israel who wants to add an amendment to the UFA bill targeted specifically at 3D printed weapons. Defense Distributed believes that information should be free for all who want it and as such has uploaded their CAD files on weapon schematics (for free) on their website, which has raised questions of concern for some. The gun debate in the US has intensified in the wake of recent mass shootings including Aurora and Sandy Hook in regards to ‘assault weapons’ and unstable individuals or criminals. As of yet there are no laws prohibiting people from manufacturing firearms using 3D printers which means anybody can create them regardless if their allowed to own guns or not. It’s in that regard that we can almost certainly see heated debates in Congress on this issue with regulatory laws to that are sure to follow.
What’s your take on the issue? Do you believe in an open and free society where anyone can manufacture firearms or do you feel restrictive regulation is needed on the same level as conventional guns?
C
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