Fear of 3D-printed guns overblown? - CNet Story

3D Printing weapons isn't about overclocking or high-end gaming but it is technology and something anyone can do now, provided you have an industrial 3D Printer and a copy of the latest design.

The question is, does this deserve the hype it is getting?  Some say no and I tend to agree.

"The government says it wants to review the files for compliance with arms export control laws known as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations," Forbes wrote. "By uploading the weapons files to the Internet and allowing them to be downloaded abroad, the letter implies [Defense Distributed] may have violated those export controls."

That federal government action came a day after Democratic California state Sen. Leland Yee introduced legislation that would ban the technology used to create 3D printed guns, and earlier action by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) that sought to restrict the manufacture of such weapons. 

This seems reasonable considering that many people forget that the US is one of the few countries that allows anyone to own a firearm and the export laws are designed to keep it that way. 

I'm not really going to follow this story but I find it interesting how quickly things have escalated and based on the photos the design isn't complex so I will expect to see new variations and even more complex designs surfacing in a matter of months.

Related Web URL: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57583823-76/why-...