3D Printed Guns Lead to Arrest In Japan

What about ammunition,,,

Ya can't print that,,,
So in a country like Japan,,,
Is it easy to get ammo on the black market?

Aarond

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You would do better asking about this in the law and civil rights forum. What I've seen is that it's got more to do with how the firearm shows up on an Airport scanner than what it's made out of, but the lawyers would know more than I. There are at least a couple University/Research groups that have made or are making 3D Printed AR receivers for example, and there was a flap over making the "pattern" or "program" that makes it available to the public.
 
As far as airport scanners and terrorism goes, what difference does it make if the gun works or not. When it becomes widespread knowledge that anyone can make plastic guns capable of defeating airport detection, even if the plastic guns couldn't fire a round, they could used as props for a terrorist act. People, not real or even fake guns, commit terrorism.
 
I would like to point out, yet again, that HOW a gun is made is irrelevant.

Machine it out of metal, mold it out of plastic, or "print it" with a 3D printer, makes no difference to what it is, and what laws apply.

If it can chamber and fire modern metallic cartridge ammunition, it's a gun. Even if it self destructs in the process, its still a gun, just a crappy gun.

How you make it is of no concern to the law.
 
If it can chamber and fire modern metallic cartridge ammunition, it's a gun. Even if it self destructs in the process, its still a gun, just a crappy gun.
Click to expand...

That's an interesting thought... If one 3D Prints a black powder firearm, is it a curio? A firearm? Neither?
 
If you print a blackpowder gun, you've made an antique firearm which the ATF does not consider to be a firearm. State laws vary.
 
And there was a man in Australia caught building derringers out of scrap brass and other parts. Many of them were caught in the hands of drug dealers. A 3D printer makes that easier, but someone with the intent to do so will do so either way.
 
wayneinFL said:
If you print a blackpowder gun, you've made an antique firearm which the ATF does not consider to be a firearm.
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Although I don't intend to start a thread hijack, I would like add a couple of important caveats re: the legal definition of an "antique firearm" in the USA, before anyone tries to build a 3D-printed blackpowder antique. (That phrase seems like an oxymoron, doesn't it? ;))

Here's the entire definition of an antique per federal law, from 18 USC § 921.
(16) The term "antique firearm'' means--
(A) any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898; or
(B) any replica of any firearm described in subparagraph (A) if such replica--
(i) is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition, or
(ii) uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade; or
(C) any muzzle loading rifle, muzzle loading shotgun, or muzzle loading pistol, which is designed to use black powder, or a black powder substitute, and which cannot use fixed ammunition. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "antique firearm'' shall not include any weapon which incorporates a firearm frame or receiver, any firearm which is converted into a muzzle loading weapon, or any muzzle loading weapon which can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof.
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(emphasis mine)

As you can see from the definition, there are four basic classes- (A), (B)(i), (B)(ii), and (C). However, as I interpret these definitions, AFAIK only ONE of the four can be 3D-printed using existing technology.

A new-made firearm obviously can't qualify under this subsection (A).

(B)(i) and (B)(ii) allow the production of replicas of pre-1899 firearms. The key word is "replica". Since current 3D printers can't duplicate the wood, brass, iron, and steel construction of pre-1899 firearms, I don't see how any firearm produced on a 3D printer could be considered a legitimate replica.

A blackpowder muzzleloading firearm under Subsection (C) could be 3D-printed, as blackpowder muzzleloaders are not required to be replicas to qualify for antique status. However, the law explicitly requires that the firearm must be unable to accept cartridge ammunition.

Mandatory disclaimer: I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV. ;) This is not legal advice. Caveat emptor and YMMV.
 
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