Are We Ready for 3D-Printed Guns?

Ready or not, they are coming.

Gun-rights advocates have won another solid victory. The Trump administration approved the publishing of 3D-printed gun designs. The decision ends a legal challenge first brought by Defense Consolidated in 2013. The U.S. State Department finally made its decision earlier this week. Blueprints will be available for wide dissemination, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

3D-printed guns have proven to be extremely controversial. With no serial numbers or registration information, they cannot be tracked by law enforcement officials. Additionally, users face no background check requirements. 3D-printed guns also cannot be discovered by metal detectors. The guns also pose a significant safety problem for users. Made entirely of plastic, the guns can potentially explode or break-apart when fired.

Gun advocates claim the problems are overstated. They point to the high cost of 3D printers. Good printers run into the tens of thousands of dollars. The excessive costs represent a deterrent to widespread use, as does the technical knowhow required to use the blueprints. The guns also offer a measure of public safety not available with traditional firearms. They have no magazine capacity. Users are limited to a single (or sometimes two) shots before they must manually reload.

The company will start publishing the blueprints of The Liberator model at the beginning of August. The designs will be posted online.