Gun Control? Here’s what the “printable gun” guy thinks about that

As I write this, Diane Feinstein is on the hill making her proposal for gun control. I thought it would be appropriate (or inappropriate to others) to share what Cody Wilson thinks. Wilson, whom we’ve visited many times on these pages, is the founder of Defense Distributed, and the guy who started up the whole “printable gun” topic last summer. He’s also set up the DEFCAD website, where anyone can download many firearm parts. At the current time, the printable gun parts community seems to be most interested in printing high-capacity magazines, since that is the easiest target of gun control proponents. Obviously, with 3D printers available to anyone, putting limits on magazines is not going to do much good.

As Wilson says in the video, “Welcome to the age of the printed magazine.” Cocky? Opportunistic? Yes. And yes. But you can say that about both sides.

People like to say that 3D printing will change everything. This is part of everything.

  • Jeff

    For those who are agahst at the idea of “printing” a gun, please understand that it is perfectly legal to make one for yourself as long as you don’t intend to sell it. That said, look at two possible scenarios:

    1) Current law, no “ban” on weapons is enacted: Few will want to go through the trouble to re-design what is already been done, just to print one in their home. Most will not want the (comparitivly) short lifespan of the materials home 3d printers can use and will opt to purchase one madeof higher quality materials. Hobbiests will use the technology to develop new designs. Some, few, criminals will use the technology to create guns rather than stealing them or buying them on the blck market.

    2) Sweeping gun bans enacted: The price of a useable gun skyrockets. The home printed receiver that will only survive a couple of hundred shots goes from not being worth the trouble to make to being worth its weight in gold. People who cannot download design plans will come up with thier own due to astronomical profit margaines. Organized crime will use 3d printers (and convential machine shops) to produce unlimited numbers of guns for the black market. Since semi autos would be illegal, many of these black market guns would be full auto machine guns (if both are illegal, make the one that is worth more).

    Personally, I don’t think that option 2 bodes well for society as a whole or for 3d printing in particular.

  • cj

    This topic fascinates me . . . . . .

    . . . but I wish they would put Cody out of the spotlight – these little videos portray an arrogant and insensitive reservoir dogs wannabe. The interview I saw him in recently shows a highly intelligent and political guy ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=q10Jz2qIog8 ). This interview actually changed my opinion of him.

    This raises all sorts of questions about censorship with a rapidly evolving and more accessible technology. These are questions which need to be asked sooner rather than later – but the most interesting part will be what government response is provoked by this project. Ditch your spokesman guys – then your cause will be heard without the biased of thinking you are gun toting douchbags.