You can download them in just three clicks from major social media sites like YouTube. The technology of 3D printing weapons has advanced rapidly in recent years – with a range of printable semi-automatic rifles, shotguns and pistols available. Those who create and share designs for these firearms have thousands of followers on Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Although popular in the US, where they are legal, 3D printing guns are becoming more common in the UK. Metropolitan Police told Sky News in an exclusive interview that it has recovered four 3D-printed weapons since 2018. It treats printed firearms as an “emerging trend” that the force is actively monitoring. ‘F *** Gun Control 9’ A community of mostly American and mostly male 3D gun enthusiasts has appeared on the internet. These hobbyists make designs, distribute them for free, and film themselves testing weapons – including push-ups over weapons to show how resilient they are. Image: Improvised weapons are sturdy, as this YouTuber proves They use their social profiles to help people find downloadable files, as well as accompanying assembly manuals and equipment lists. See how they do it: Let’s look at this Instagram page as an example. A person comments on one of the photos asking how to find the files. They are literally called “Google”. From there users are redirected to a smaller social networking site. Then, a user will choose the weapon he wants … … and from there download the files needed to print his data. Sometimes it’s even simpler: With three clicks you can go to a link on YouTube … … to choose a weapon…. … to download weapon files for free. One of the most popular models is the FGC 9. Its name means F *** Gun Control and its download page has more than 70,000 views. Matt Larosiere is part of this online community. He says there is no central group behind the movement, but what unites them is the desire to protect their freedoms and allow others to do the same. He told Sky News: “There are no 3D Guns Incorporated. There is no CEO of weapons with 3D printing. Picture: An FGC 9 is fired “But I will tell you that the dominant motivation I have seen from people in our communities is simply an incredible love of freedom and people and an understanding that we have the right to physical autonomy. “And the best way to keep our bodies safe is to have effective mechanisms to defend ourselves.” Mr Larosiere believes governments are part of the threat to individuals. He argues that there is a possibility that governments could endanger an individual or violate the freedom of the public. Image: Matt Larosiere is part of a community that designs 3D printing weapons “Honestly, as we have seen in places like Myanmar, the government generally lies to you about most things and you should probably print a gun in case you need to shoot them,” he said. How easy is it to make a weapon with 3D printing? It is often said that weapons with 3D printing are cheaper and easier to obtain than other firearms, but it is not so clear. Rajan Basra is a Senior Fellow at the International Center for the Study of Radicalization at King’s College London. Closely monitors the appearance of weapons with 3D printing. Image: Rajan Basra explains that there are many opportunities for a person to be caught during the process of making a weapon with 3D printing in the UK “It’s a very simplistic view to say that with a few hundred pounds you could print a gun in 3D,” explains Dr Basra. “There are many obstacles when it comes to getting a working weapon in your hand and every step in this construction process represents another point of intervention for the authorities. “It’s another point where you could get caught.” One potential hurdle is the cost of purchasing a 3D printer, which creates layers of thread on viable firearm components based on the design files shown in the animation below. These printers have become more economical in recent years, but they cost at least £ 150. There is also a misconception that 3D printing guns can be made entirely behind closed doors because they are made entirely of plastic, which is not always the case. Most 3D printing weapons need some metal parts. For example, a printed version of this glock would require springs, pins, the barrel, and other metal parts. These pieces can often be purchased from major online department stores. But different weapons are more complicated than others – for example, a glock like this would require a metal slider among other metal elements. An “emerging trend” in the UK Mass shootings such as the attack on a school in Uvalde, Texas have rekindled the debate in the United States about the ease of access to firearms. This includes access to 3D-printed weapons that are not believed to have been used in such attacks. America’s gun laws are loose compared to most of Europe, where firearms, including printable ones, are illegal. The laws of the United Kingdom are some of the most powerful and punitive. Nevertheless, weapons with 3D printing appear. Police in Northern Ireland are investigating two printed guns seen in the hands of the Republican separatist group, laglaigh na hÉireann. Image: Two printed guns were seen in the hands of a Republican separatist group in April this year. Credit: Dieter Reinisch And since 2019, six people in the UK have been prosecuted, where 3D-printed weapons have played a role in their case. Image: Tendai Muswere was the first person believed to have been convicted of a 3D weapon in 2019. Photo: Met Police For the first time, the Metropolitan Police agreed to show the public examples of weapons with a 3D print made by their team to assist in their investigation and a recovered FGC 9. Image: 3D Printed Weapons Made by Met Police as part of its evolving firearms investigation Matthew Webb, a crime detective inspector at Metropolitan Police, explained that FGC 9 was recovered in September 2021 in an area of north-east London. “Police were called by a member of the public for a firearm containing a backpack,” Det Insp Webb said. “It’s definitely a technology that is evolving and that’s why we see it as an emerging threat. “Technology has evolved and now you are talking about hybrid weapons, metal and plastic together, allowing someone with knowledge and expertise in the field to be able to print a semi-automatic rifle, as we see with the FGC 9.” He adds that early designs were prone to breakage by ammunition firing power, in contrast to more robust designs in recent years. Image: Both the liberator’s weapon (white) and the bear weapon (black) look broken here after being shot Even with advanced technology, 3D printing weapons are only a fraction of Met Police’s work right now, with the power to seize more than 500 traditional firearms last year alone. But part of the challenge of policing guns with 3D printing is that they can be made discreetly. The Metropolitan Police says it is adapting. Image: Det ick Blackburn’s main supporter reveals that police are working to seize weapons with 3D printing before they reach the streets of London Chief Detective Nick Blackburn says his colleagues are being trained to watch out for weapons that do not look like conventional firearms. For example, police officers will be able to detect brightly colored weapons or toys that may look like toys. He says: “It is an emerging trend and a trend that our staff knows. “We have to understand the threat, we have to deal with it as an emerging threat, we have to watch it, watch those people who see it online if we can, and stop these guns before they take to the streets of London.” Who Makes Britain’s 3D Weapons? The greatest risk of attack is unlikely to come from a three-dimensional ideological or politically motivated gun movement, according to research by Dr Basra at the International Center for the Study of Radicalization. Instead, he suggests that there is a growing link between these weapons and extremists. He said: “The reality is that there are effective plans that are published on the internet. We have seen extremists sharing these plans [and] “We have seen extremists try to make weapons with 3D printing.” Dr Basra says members of the far right often share training documents and plans on the Internet to prepare for a so-called racial war, increasing their chances of coming across weapons records. Examples of this can be seen in the United Kingdom, with five out of six people being prosecuted for far-right 3D printing weapons. They all used the Internet to research, prepare, or start building a 3D-printed weapon. Image: A partially fabricated 3D printed firearm was found after the capture (left to right) of Daniel Wright, Liam Hall and Stacey Salmon. Credit: CTPNE A case has seen an undercover detective stealing online designs between Daniel Wright, Liam Hall and Stacey Salmon from Yorkshire. After their arrest, a partially made 3D-printed firearm was found. Those convicted in England stopped before they could cause bodily harm. But in Germany, a neo-Nazi armed with 3D printing weapons and other improvised weapons killed two people and attacked a synagogue in 2019. Image: Balliet tried to shoot inside a German synagogue in Halle Stephan Balliet’s manifesto showed that he hoped to prove the power of these improvised firearms, but repeatedly …
