SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
For those in the US with a combined interest in 3D-Printers, intersections of the 1st and 2nd Amendments, and legal precedents; Cody Wilson has been fighting the US Government for half a decade.
Short version: after Wilson uploaded his 3D pistol plans to his site, over 100,000 people downloaded it - this drew the attention of the US authorities, who tried to use the International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to force a take-down.
The authorities argued that by posting the 3D printer plans for a firearm, Mr. Wilson was effectively exporting firearms, and subject to federal regulation. Eventually the Department of Justice dropped the case, paving the way for DIY'ers to publish such things freely.
The article cites 'promises' made by DoJ to move the regulations to another department.
Wired's article: A Landmark Legal Shift Opens Pandora's Box for DIY Guns (archive)
Related: The $1,200 Machine That Lets Anyone Make a Metal Gun at Home
Japanese Gun Printer Goes to Jail
Suspected 3D-Printed Gun Parts and Plastic Knuckles Seized in Australia
FedEx Refuses to Ship Defense Distributed's Ghost Gunner CNC Mill
Man Who Used CNC Mill to Manufacture AR-15 "Lowers" Sentenced to 41 Months
Ghost Gunner Software Update Allows the Milling of an M1911 Handgun
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Friday July 13 2018, @05:04AM (6 children)
This is true only of the Federal Gov't. Many states have registration schemes. For example, in WA state, the Department of Licensing keeps track of handguns (but not rifles for now): http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.129 [wa.gov]
And while the statute says "may" -- the state is working hard to get through its backlog, so it is doing it. http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/dec/18/washington-state-gun-database-lacks-info-on-thousa/ [spokesman.com]
The specific data collected is comprehensive: "At the time of applying for the purchase of a pistol, the purchaser shall sign in triplicate and deliver to the dealer an application containing his or her full name, residential address, date and place of birth, race, and gender; the date and hour of the application; the applicant's driver's license number or state identification card number; a description of the pistol including the make, model, caliber and manufacturer's number if available at the time of applying for the purchase of a pistol." http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.090 [wa.gov]
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Friday July 13 2018, @01:56PM (4 children)
>keeps track of handguns (but not rifles for now)
Makes sense - handguns, like assault rifles, are designed for the express purpose of shooting people. Hopefully in situations where it's justified (e.g. self defense), but still. And unlike assault rifles, handguns are cheap, easily concealable, and widely popular.
(Score: 2, Informative) by redneckmother on Friday July 13 2018, @04:07PM (1 child)
Ignoring the term "assault rifle", which is controversial.
Pistols are designed for both hunting and self defense. Come on out to the Western US, where we have critters that'll put a real hurt on you. All my friends and neighbors own at least one pistol, shotgun, AND rifle.
An AR-15 with a high capacity magazine is REALLY USEFUL when one is confronted by a large pack of Javelina or feral hogs. I'm not speaking hypothetically, but from real experience. Predator control and deer hunting are other primary uses.
A Taurus Judge is handy to have when the rattlers are about. Again, real experiences.
Just sayin'.
Mas cerveza por favor.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Saturday July 14 2018, @01:06PM
I live in the Western US, and yeah, we have some critters that will put the hurt on you if you piss them off. Most of them will be a real problem by the time they're close enough for a handgun to be useful, assuming a handgun will do more than just piss them off in the first place. As I heard someone say once - if you ever get attacked by a bear when all you have is a handgun - wait until it's about to eat you, then shove your arm in its mouth and start firing. And pray you do enough damage to chase it off before you lose your arm.
That said, you pissing them off is pretty much the only way you'll have a problem - bears, mountain lions, rattle snakes, etc. all know better than to tangle with humans if they can avoid it. I've run into all of them in the woods and never had a problem. I've heard a young, hungry mountain lion will occasionally attack a human, but you mostly have to be stupid enough to walk underneath it first, in which case you'll likely be dead before you can draw your weapon anyway. A pack of wolves are pretty much the only thing that might hunt you intentionally, and mostly only if you're already in trouble - they're not stupid either.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 13 2018, @06:55PM (1 child)
there's no such thing as an "assault rifle", you propagandist.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Saturday July 14 2018, @12:51PM
Oh? And what would you call the fully automatic short-barrel rifles typically given to military ground troops around the world?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 13 2018, @04:27PM
Why do they need to know your race?
Lots of people aren't even sure. Are they supposed to use the "one drop rule" like the slave states used?
GET OVER IT.