Will Gun Control Become Obsolete?

Imagine being able to download gun parts, and perhaps even an entire gun, from the internet and print it out in your home.

Meet the “Cuomo.” It’s a new printed magazine for your AR-15 rifle, soon to be available for download, and it holds 30 bullets. Upgrading an earlier design that didn’t hold up particularly well after extended use, it’s an unsubtle rejoinder to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who recently signed a magazine-restriction law limiting mags to seven rounds. Defense Distributed is basically saying that if you’re not going to be allowed to buy larger magazines in the near future, you can print them yourself — if, that is, 3-D printed weapons don’t fall into legislators’ own crosshairs.

In recent tests at a gun range near Austin, Texas, Defense Distributed fired a total of 342 rounds using the magazine with no issues, according to the group’s founder, Cody Wilson. The group fired 227 of those rounds using full automatic fire, while swapping out the barrels on the rifle to keep them cool. The group also uploaded a promotional video, seen above, demonstrating a portion of the test.

If you’re thinking this sounds absurd, consider that companies are already making and marketing consumer-grade 3D printers. They’re expensive, but not out of reach for most Americans.

I’d like to think that something like a 3D printer could make gun control obsolete, but if this catches on it’ll probably be all the excuse the government needs to restrict 3D printers. Oh, wait, that’s already happening:

Last month, Rep. Steve Israel of New York called for 3-D printed magazines to be banned. More broadly, magazines of more than 10 rounds were restricted until the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004. New York’s recent law banning magazines greater than seven rounds would also make Wilson’s magazine illegal — but difficult to control if getting one is as simple as printing it off the internet.

We can’t let people be too free lest the hurt themselves with all that freedom.

Here’s the promotional video: