US New York Council Member Lewis Fidler (D-Brooklyn) introduced a new bill to regulate 3D printed guns in New York this week. The bill would make it illegal to use a 3D printer to create any part of a firearm unless the person is a licensed gunsmith. A gunsmith printing any part of a gun would be required to register it within 72 hours and notify the NYPD.
A second piece of legislation was also announced on June 12 by State Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) to illegalize the manufacture, sale or use of guns or ammunition made with a 3D printer.
Gun creator and 3D printing anti-hero Cody Wilson is reported to have retorted that “Such legislation is a deprivation of equal protection and works in clear ignorance of Title I and II of U.S. gun laws.” Referring to Title 1 of the Gun Control Act of 1968, and Title 2 of the National Firearms Act.
Under US federal law, it is legal for individuals to manufacture certain types of firearms as long as the guns are not resold, are not fully automatic and comply with set limits such as on gun and barrel length. The person who builds his or her own gun needs to make at least 20 percent of the receiver, which houses the trigger and operating parts of the firearm. This aims to prevent people from buying gun parts separately to the assemble, the part of the law that is evaded by producing a gun on a 3D printer as the receiver can be printed.
Further to last week’s survey of US opinions on owning 3D Printers at home, theepochtimes.com is currently conducting their own poll into whether 3D printers should be regulated, which, further to my vote, currently stands at:
Should milling be regulated ? Drilling perhaps ? Oh, I see, it is because a 3D print is only the click of a button away … like pulling a trigger