Mark McDaniel from Reason Magazine joins us to discuss homemade gun technology in response to a recent court case involving gun ownership activist, Cody Wilson, and his group, Defense Distributed, who were the minds behind the “Wiki Weapon Project”.
Cody Wilson and his group went unnoticed until they actually tried to build a weapon, specifically named the “Liberator”. However, when the printer company, Stratasys, heard of this plan they took his printer and reported Wilson’s intentions to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). The press got wind of this dispute when Wilson posted a viral video of Stratasys taking the printer away. Later on, the State Department got involved when Wilson posted the blueprints of how to print the “Liberator”.
What kind of guns can be printed? What are the rules for making a traditional weapon at home? Why should we care if people can have 3D-printed guns so easily? How far away are we, technologically speaking, from creating legit firearms in our homes?
Further Readings
Trevor Burrus’ and Meggan Dewitt’s article about the amicus position the Cato Institute took on 3D printed guns.
Mark McDaniel on how to legally make your own 3D printed gun.
Andy Greenberg from Wired on how 3D guns are now deemed untraceable.
Andrea O’Sullivan from Reason explains how the computer code to make 3D printed guns is protected by the 1st Amendment.
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