Popular Front Plastic Defence: Illegal 3D Printed Guns in Europe
Plastic Defence is a documentary about illegal 3D printed firearms in Europe and the decentralised network behind them. These guns are robust, they don't blow up in your hands, and they're untraceable. What's more, they're being made in people's bedrooms.
At Popular Front, we got access to the network designing and building these downloadable rifles. It goes by the name "Deterrence Dispensed". Its members are determined to give untraceable DIY firearms to the world. We spent time with the founder of the movement—a man known as JStark.
He showed us how he designs the firearms, builds them in his workshop, and even makes bootleg 9mm ammunition for them.
We also went out into the forests with JStark to witness how powerful 3D printed firearms have become, and to gauge how dangerous they could be for Europe.
JStark argues that his group is helping people living under authoritarianism fight back against their oppressors. Whilst this could be true, Deterrence Dispensed is sending their technology out into the world for free to anyone and everyone. It's totally unregulated. If it gets into the wrong hands, which it easily could do, many innocent people could die.