The world's first gun made with 3D printer technology has been successfully fired in the US. The controversial group which created the firearm, Defense Distributed, plans to make the blueprints available online.

Defense Distributed is headed by Cody Wilson, a 25-year-old law student at the University of Texas.Mr Wilson said: "I think a lot of people weren't expecting that this could be done."

Mr Wilson, who describes himself as a crypto-anarchist, said his plans to make the design available were "about liberty". Asked if he felt any sense of responsibility about whose hands the gun might fall into, he told the BBC: "I recognise the tool might be used to harm other people - that's what the tool is - it's a gun."

"But I don't think that's a reason to not do it - or a reason not to put it out there."

That last comment kinda sums up my feelings.
It was always going to be inevitable that someone did this though, no real shock there sadly.

Mark

That last comment kinda sums up my feelings.
It was always going to be inevitable that someone did this though, no real shock there sadly.

Mark

i wonder how hard it will be to detect these plastic weapons with current detection set ups at airports ? ...

That last comment kinda sums up my feelings.
It was always going to be inevitable that someone did this though, no real shock there sadly.

Mark

I am rather surprised that the plastic used can withstand the firing, though I expect the lifespan of such a weapon to be fairly short. Mind you, 3D printers destined for consumers seem limited to plastic, so this should restrict the abilities of the weapon produced. When cheap 3D printers start working with metal, then I would expect more durable weapons to be available.

This made me laugh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pOiOhxujsE