3D-Printed Gun “The Liberator” Successfully Test Fired

In what could be a new twist in the gun control debate, the world’s first 3D-printed gun has been successfully test-fired.

The Liberator

The gun, known as the Liberator, is made from a durable heat-resistant plastic. It was created by Texas-based non-profit group Defense Distributed, founded by Cody Wilson, a 25-year old University of Texas law student. The gun features an interchangeable barrel, allowing different caliber rounds to be fired.

It took 8 months to create.

Wilson’s desire to release the blueprints, meaning the gun could be downloaded and printed by anyone, has sparked a new debate in the gun control issue.

Legality of 3D-Printed Guns

There is debate on the whether or not 3D-printed guns are legal. Some have suggested that it could be interpreted as a violation of the “Any Other Weapons” provision of the National Firearms Act. Wilson included a 6-ounce piece of non-functional metal in the Liberator, to allow it to be picked up by metal detectors. This piece of metal could easily be removed by someone seeking to avoid metal detection.

There has already been a call for legislation to specifically ban 3D-printed guns by Congressman Steve Israel of New York, who stated on May 3, 2013, “Security checkpoints, background checks, and gun regulations will do little good if criminals can print plastic firearms at home and bring those firearms through metal detectors with no one the wiser.”

US Senator Charles Schumer also joined in calls for legislation, stating, “We’re facing a situation where anyone – a felon, a terrorist – can open a gun factory in their garage and the weapons they make will be undetectable. It’s stomach-churning.”

Wilson’s responded to the expected controversy surrounding the 3D-printed gun by telling Forbes, “I recognize that this tool might be used to harm people. That’s what it is – it’s a gun. But I don’t think that’s a reason to not put it out there. I think that liberty in the end is a better interest.”

Your Turn

What do you think of 3D-printable guns? Let us hear from you in the comments below.

Video

You can watch the test firing of the Liberator in the video below.

Sources

• First completely 3D-printed gun shown (CNN Money)
• Shots fired from world’s first 3D-printed gun (Fox News)
• This Is The World’s First Entirely 3D-Printed Gun (Forbes)