Michael Kaelin

Ms. Hull
English 2010
T R 10:00-11:20
3/12/2015

Part 1: Free Guns

Since 2013, 3D printing has come into the mainstream media filling blogs and
newspaper articles. The reason for this is because in 2013, many prototypes of 3D printers
became realities. Many of these realities were positive, including a much cheaper way of
creating 3D prosthetics, assisting manufacturing efforts in third world countries, and a much
more precise way of making surgical components like hip replacements. Like many emerging
technologies, however, there are downfalls and negative results. For example, dynamite was
invented in 1867, to be used for mining and industrial construction. Yet soon after it was
invented it was being used for bombings and killings. Consequently many regulations and
limitations have been applied to its use. These regulations have allowed communities around
the world to benefit from dynamite use despite the harm caused from abuse.
Similarly 3D printing has matured to the point where the applications of regulations and
restrictions could benefit the safety and wellbeing of individuals around the world. By utilizing
the creation of objects through digital designs (3D Printing) one can currently print guns, lower
receivers to assault rifles, and high-capacity magazines. Both lower receivers and high-capacity
magazines have recently been banned in the United States due to new gun control laws set in
place in response to the Sandy Hook Massacre. Although these 3D printed guns and gun

accessories are already illegal under the Undetectable Firearms Act, nothing has been done to
regulate 3D printers. Many gun activists argue that there is no way to regulate such a
revolutionary technology. Cody Wilson, the founder of Defense Distributed (DD) a nonprofit
organization which designs printable gun parts with the intent to distribute the blueprints to the
public, states, We cant stop it, even if we wanted to, and thats a good thing (Qtd. In twilley,
Par. 4). The main argument behind this statement is that desktop 3D printers are already
available in stores like Staples and Best Buy. In addition, few attempts have been made to
regulate them. Wilson, however, overlooked the fact that many of these printers require regular
updates, so there are still ways to potentially implement regulation. 3D printers should be
subject to government regulation in the United States because the possibilities of printing guns
and gun parts are a threat to security, challenge the safety and wellbeing of our communities,
and will further reinforce recently passed gun control laws. We want to avoid or minimize the
harmful consequences caused by letting anyone, of any age, intent, or mental stability have
access to a gun.
3D printed guns are a new generation of weapons that will call into question
many current security protocols. Regulation could improve our security systems in the United
States, making it more efficient and possibly prevent events like 9/11. In 2013, Wilson
successfully fired a gun comprised solely of 3D printed parts and using a nail as a firing pin. He
named the gun "The Liberator." First, The Liberator must be given due credit. It is a genius
weapon, made from plastic parts, designed using a computer program. Although brilliant, the
dangers that The Liberator brings to security around the world are terrifying.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers were considered a slap round the
face to our previous efforts at airport security. In the years since, airport security has developed
the use of x-ray scanners for all luggage and walk-through x-ray scanners called Provision AIT
scanners (airport security, Par. 11). Regulating 3D printers will help prevent guns like The
Liberator making it through security, leading to events similar to 9/11. This would fully stop the
accessibility to 3D printed guns, but it is better than nothing. To maintain our airport security we
must find a way to stop the production of weapons that can make it past our securities. Airports
would not be the only secure facilities to benefit from regulation of 3D printing. All secure
facilities in the US would benefit such as, prisons, courts, and even public events.
Making a successful 3D printed gun takes precise blueprints. Results of
unsuccessful blueprints have led to explosions of the device in the users hand. So one might
ask, how will people find the successful blueprints? Pretty easily, it turns out. Wilson posted the
blueprints of The Liberator online for anyone to download free of charge. By the time the U.S.
State Department strongly suggested he take them down, it was too late: The Liberator had
been downloaded over 100,000 times and later posted by third parties. Now, since a 3D printed
gun is a few clicks away, the only way to control the matter is by controlling the use of the 3D
printer.
The most important reason why we should regulate 3D printers is because it
interferes with public safety. Many people come to the United States because it is safer than
many other countries in the world. However, with this reputation we must maintain our safety.
3D printed guns create an immense safety hazard in our nation. For example, The Liberator has

no serial information, cannot be traced, and can be printed by anyone with access to a 3D
printer--a terrorist, a drug dealer, a mentally unstable individual, even a child. For this reason,
we must exert extreme caution over who has access to 3D printers.
Abraham Maslow, a famous psychologist (also referred to as The father of
modern management psychology), created a theory which ranks the psychological needs of a
human being. Out of all five of these needs, safety comes in at number two (Thomas, Par. 4).
Maslows theory indicates that safety needs
dominate our behavior. The U.S. can be
considered a favorably safe country.
The US ranks #10 on the global
Legatum Prosperity Index (LPI) (Global
Rankings, Figure 1). In order for the us to
maintain our safety ranking, we must
continually progress. And this includes placing
limitations on access to 3D printers.
Many political figures are becoming

aware

of this safety issue but are dragging their feet to press for regulation. US Senator Chuck
Schumer is an advocate of regulating 3D printing. Schumer illustrates his concerns by stating,
A felon, a terrorist can make a gun in the comfort of their home, not even
leaving their home, and do terrible damage with it. And so the question is what do

we do about it? First thing we should do is certainly extend the law, the law that
prohibits these types of guns that cant be detected (Schumer takes aim).
Schumer followed through with his plans to extend that law, the Undetectable Firearms
Act. This act makes it illegal to manufacture, import, sell, ship, deliver, possess, transfer or
receive any firearm thats undetectable by scanners (Miller, par. 8). Although this was a valiant
effort at making our communities safer, in reality it did nothing. It is like giving a cjild candy, and
then telling them they cannot eat it. Regulation needs to be focused on the 3D printers
themselves--the candy. This is the only way to ensure the safety and well being of our citizens.
What happens when a child finds the blueprints to The Liberator online, not knowing its illegal?
Criminals are not the only ones we should be worried about possessing a gun. The problem is
that anyone will have access to these guns. 3D printers cross all the red lines of safety and we
need to find a solution to this challenge.

In January of 2013, new gun laws were imposed. These gun laws were in response to
the Sandy Hook shooting which took place almost exactly a month before. These gun laws
made having assault weapons and high capacity magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds
illegal. Gun activists were furious when these laws were passed. although their arguments are
shaky. Wilson argues against the laws by stating, Why does anyone need an ammunition clip

for more than 30 rounds? Why does anyone need two houses? Why does any one need to make
more than $400,000 a year? (3D printed guns documentary). Wilson does have have a point, but

most often houses and money don't usually kill someone. High capacity magazines were the
reason why the shooter was able to kill 20+ people in the Sandy Hook massacre.
So how do these gun laws relate to 3D printing? In response to 3D printing and in
addition to The Liberators files, Defense Distributed also uploaded
blueprints to lower receivers for assault weapons and high capacity
magazines for download free of charge (3D printed guns
documentary). The lower receiver is the part that connects the rest of
gun, such as the AR-15. All the other parts can be ordered online by
anyone of any age, so the real regulation comes down to the lower
receiver, the device that holds the trigger. Someone with a 3D printed
lower receiver can order all the other parts online without need for a
gun permit. Dont forget that if for some odd reason you needed a high
capacity magazine you could print that off too. The point is that because of 3D printers we are
right back where we started before the gun laws were put in place. We are setting ourselves up
for another devastating violent event. Regulating 3D printing would patch this loophole in our
law system.

Part 2: A Solution
In order to find a proper solution one must use a proper method and ask which
solution will best fit the problem at hand? When it comes to 3D printers, the problem that needs

to be solved is what people will be printing. A solution to this problem would prevent production
of guns, gun parts, and other harmful items that can be printed in a matter of hours with a
common desktop printer. The solution must contain the following criteria: must be realistic,
must successfully stop the production of 3D printed gun parts, must be cost effective, must
address the problem that many people in the US already have printers, and must make people
aware of the dangers of 3D printing so that misuses will be reported. Also, an efficient problem
solver will try to work out more than one solution to the problem.
One solution would be to create a bill through U.S. Congress that would require an
individual to be licensed in order to obtain a 3D printer. This would be a very realistic solution.
Guns themselves require licenses so why not make a device capable of creating a gun require a
license? In order to obtain this license one would have to submit to background checks and be a
law-abiding citizen. Although this does meet most requirements, there are flaws with this
solution that suggest another solution might be better. First, many people already own 3D
printers, and people might not be fond of having to license. Also this solution still does not
successfully stop the printing of guns. It just narrows the use.
The solution that should be implemented should be embedded in the technology itself. As
mentioned earlier, 3D printers require often updates to fix bugs and improve the printing. So
could 3D printers not be programed to to detect harmful devices and refuse to print? It may
sound far fetched, but surprisingly the technology already exists. A technology was reported in
an article about airport security advancements put out by Flight Global, a website dedicated to

the evolution of aviation. This article introduced a technology that has been implemented in
airport x-ray scanners that use algorithms to detect suspect objects (Airport Security, 12). The
technology is here now. We just must implement it in 3D printers though a general update. This
solution would meet all the requirements. It would stop the production of 3D printed guns, is
realistic (technology is already available), updates are free making it cost effective, it can be
applied to printers already in use, and it can alert police when someone is trying to print 3D
weapons.
Implementing technology to prevent 3D printer abuse would solve the problems created
by 3D printed firearms and parts in the U.S. Such technology could also benefit other nations.
Our culture of safety and security would be restored. For now we must press the topic, hope
printed guns do not fall into the wrong hands, and advocate for change.

Works Cited

"Airport Security." Flight Global. Flight Global, 11 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
"DEFENSE DISTRIBUTED." DD. Defense Distributed, 6 May 2013. Web.
10 Feb. 2015.
Miller, Joshua. "Philadelphia Poised to Become First City to Ban 3D-printed Guns." Fox

News. FOX News Network, 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.

Sen. Schumer Takes Aim at 3D-Printed Guns. Perf. Charles Schumer. CNN, 2013.
Video.
Thomas, Shamekia. "Maslow's Theory of Human Needs." Study.com. 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 12
Mar. 2015
Twilley, Nicola. "Join the Debate: 3D Printed Guns or Government Regulation?" Gizmodo. 1
Apr. 2014. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
3D Printed Guns (Documentary). Vice News, 2013. Video. Director, Erin Carr.

Images
Figure 1: "Legatum Prosperity Index." Global Sherpa. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
Figure 2: Covertress. (2013, August 13). Retrieved February 17, 2015.