AUSTRALIAN TEEN FACES CHARGES FOR PRINTING A GUN AT HOME USING 3D PRINTING

Thu 16 June 2022:

Police in Australia have charged an 18-year-old male after seizing a fully functional handgun he reportedly built at home with a 3D printer. Drug and Firearm Squad investigators discovered the improvised weapon inside a residence in Bayswater, in Perth’s northeast, on June 3.

“This firearm although it resembles a toy has the ability to cause serious harm within our community,” Detective Senior Sgt. Blair Smith told reporters. “It’s deeply concerning that this man was able to manufacture this firearm at home with a 3D printer and readily available materials.”

With a single pull of the trigger, the 3D-printed weapon can fire 15 bullets. Unlicensed production of firearms or ammunition, as well as possession of a prohibited weapon, are among the charges leveled against the teen.

In Australia, civilians are prohibited from owning fully automatic weapons, and all other firearms are strictly controlled and limited to people over the age of 18 who have a valid license.

After a gunman opened fire on tourists at Port Arthur, a former colonial prison in Tasmania, killing 35 people, the regulations were enacted in 1996.

Sergeant Smith described the discovery of the assault rifle as ‘deeply concerning’ and said it held no place in the community. ‘Although it resembles a toy it has the ability to cause serious harm within our community,’ he told reporters during a press conference on Monday.

A pistol may be made in as little as 48 hours with ingredients costing as little as $40, but a 3D printer can cost as much as $6,000.

The teenager is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on June 22.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES | FILE PHOTO

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