3D-printed GUNS COULD BECOME “The Weapon of Choice” for Criminals and Violent Extremists Around the World, An Expert Has Told the BBC. These diy, unraceable firearms have been recovered in several recent criminal cases, including the allegated use of a partially 3d-printed gun in the killing of United Healthcare Ceo Brian Thompson.
BBC trending has investigated the global Spread of 3D-printed GUNS ACCOSS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATORS INCLUDING Telegram, Facebook and Instagram, as Well As Websites Offering How-To Guides.
3D-printed Guns, offten described as a type of “ghost” gun, are unreceable firearms that can be be ber anSembled a 3d printer, downloadable blueprints and some basic materials. Designed to Evade Gun-Control Laws, The Technology has Advanced Rapidly in the Last Decade, with the Latest Capable of Firing Multiple Rounds with their plastic components breaking.
Accounting to nick supine ofeverytown, a US-based gun Control organization, 3D-printed Guns Could Become the “Weapon of Choice” for People Planning Acts of Violence: “The Materials Have Gotten Better, The Cost Has Gone Down, and the Ease of the Blue Blue,” He said.
BBC Trending’s Investigation Began With Advertisasements for Guns on Instagram and Facebook. In October 2024, The Tech Transparency Project, a non-profit that monitors Technology Companies, found Hundreds of Gun Ads – Including for 3D -Printed and Other Ghost Guns – appearing on meta platforms, in violation of its police.
Meta declined to comment on the findings at the time. Several Months Later, BBC Trending Found Similar Gun Adverts Still Showing As Active in Meta ad database.
MANY OF THIS GUN ADVERTS Directs Potential Customers to Telegram or WhatsApp Channels. On telegram, we found Channels Displaying a Variety of Guns for Sale. Some of these appeared to be 3D-printed. One Telegram Account with Over 1,000 Subscribers CLASCRIES TO SHIP WEAPONS GLOBALLY.
BBC Trending Contained the Account, Which Called ITSELF “Jessy”, to confirm Whether it will be willing to break the law by shipping 3D-print to the uk. Within an Hour, Jessy Offered US A Liberator or a Glock Switch.
A Glock Switch (Also Known as an Auto Sear) is a small, 3D-printed parties part that converts a pistol into an automatic weapon.
The Liberator, Designed in 2013 by “Crypto-Anaarchist” Cody WilsonIs the World’s First Widely AVAILABLE 3D-Printed Gun, Capable of Firing A Single Shot.
Jessy CLAPIED He COULD SMUGGLE The Weapon Through Uk Customs, Asked for Payment of £ 160 in Bitcoin, THEN SUGGESTED A BANK Transfer to Akcount We Couldn’t Trace.
We are we latter contacted Jessy, Identifying ourselves as the BBC, he acknowledged that selling weapons in the uk is illegal but sounded unapologetic.
“I RUN MY BUSINESS, SELL SOME STRAPS (Slang for Weapons),” he said.
We did not process with the transaction to the test Jessy’s Claims. While his casual attitude suggestted he mIight have been a scammer, his ability to advertise on meta and operat on telegram Highlights apparent loopholes that real gun dealers couldoit.
Creation, Meta Told the BBC that the Adverts We Highlight Had Been “Automatically Disabled in Line with Our Police”, and that Inclusion in Its Ad Library “DOESN’T NECESARILY MEAN THE AD STILL OR VISIBLE”.
Telegram Said that Jessy’s Account Had Been Proactive Removed for Breaching Its Police. A Spokesperson Added: “The Sale of Weapons is Explicitly Forbidden by Telegrams of Service and is Removed wenever discovered. Moderators empowered with Custom he and Machine learning proactive monitor public parts of the platform and accept Reports in order of Remove Millions of Remove Million Pieces of Harmful Content Each Day, Including the Sale of Weapons. “
Concerningly though, People Seeking 3D-Printed Guns Don’t Need to Buy Readymade Ones Through Media. They can assemble their Own. Models like the FGC-9 are Designed Using Only 3D-Printed Plastic and Repurposed Metal Components, with no commercially available gun parts required.
“You are essentially becoming a diy gunsmith,” Says dr Rajan Basra, a Researcher at King’s College London. Howver, “it’s not as Easy as printing off a Sheet of a4 Paper in Your Office Printer.”
Nor the bbc ha Previously Reportedthere are websites offering free step-by-sttep guides and downloadable blueprints for 3D-printed guns.
One Such Guide Was Written by Matthew Larosiere, A Gun Rights attorney in Florida. He’s Associated With the Global Pro-3D-Printed Gun Community, Which Has Many Members in the USA Who See the Secondment Right to Bear AS A Human Right.
BBC trending challenged Him about why he is sharing information to help People build a lethal weapon.
He replied: “It”s just information. It”s ons and zeros. The fact that the information has a use that make you uncomfortable, I undersstand and i sympathia with that, but that dosesn’t make it correct to anythe’s more information.” “” “
Asked About the risk of this “Information” being used in a schoool shooting or Massacre, he replied: “i thank that has not happy.” He ciked myanmar as a country where, in his view, 3D-printed Guns have served a positive cause.
Myanmar is currently the only known case of 3D-printed Guns youed in Active Military Conflict. The FGC-9’s use by resistance fighters against the junta haen widly reported.
But as BBC Burmese’s Hnin Mo Discovered, Many of these Groups Have Since Stopped Using 3D-Printed Guns. This is Despite Resistance Forces Production Nuds of FGC-9s in 2022 and 2023, Which Cost Over Tens Less than Machine Guns on the Black Market.
The rebellious leaders hnin mo spoke to be ciped the junta’s tight control over imports of essential materials like Glue and Metal. Additionally, these Groups Now Have More Conventional Weapons at their disposal, Such as rpgs or machine guns.
The Myanmar Example Demonstrates the Limits of Current 3D-Printed Guns for Military use. But globally, their Spread is clear. Several Countries Are Consding Laws to Criminalise the Possession of BluePrints. Theree are Also Calls for 3D Printer Manufacturers To block the printing of the gun parts, in the same way that conventional printers restrict the printing of Currency. But whereer Such Measures Can Be Effective Remains to Be Seen.
Additional Reporting by Hnin Mo, BBC Burmese