Britain updates 3D-printed gun rules

Britain updates 3D-printed gun rules

Friday 13 Dec 2013

Following on from the story last week on the planned 3D printing of a full house, the British government came out last week and said that the unlicensed 3D printing of guns is illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison. This move was designed to address growing public concern about plastic guns.

Weapons made by printing their components are already banned under the 1968 Firearms Act, but the Home Office has updated its rules to prohibit the manufacture, sale, purchase and possession of them unless properly licensed. The regulations also apply to individual gun components.

Printed guns have prompted unease among public and police forces since the first firearm blueprint was successfully fired and then freely published online in May this year, attracting over 100,000 downloads in just two days. "The Liberator" handgun was invented by 25-year-old Cody Wilson, a Texan law student. His company Defence Distributed was quickly forced to remove the plans by the US government, which said he had not received approval for making the weapon.

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