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submitted 3 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/news@lemmy.world

Communities around the U.S. have seen shootings carried out with weapons converted to fully automatic in recent years, fueled by a staggering increase in small pieces of metal or plastic made with a 3D printer or ordered online. Laws against machine guns date back to the bloody violence of Prohibition-era gangsters. But the proliferation of devices known by nicknames such as Glock switches, auto sears and chips has allowed people to transform legal semi-automatic weapons into even more dangerous guns, helping fuel gun violence, police and federal authorities said.

The (ATF) reported a 570% increase in the number of conversion devices collected by police departments between 2017 and 2021, the most recent data available.

The devices that can convert legal semi-automatic weapons can be made on a 3D printer in about 35 minutes or ordered from overseas online for less than $30. They’re also quick to install.

“It takes two or three seconds to put in some of these devices into a firearm to make that firearm into a machine gun instantly,” Dettelbach said.

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[-] candywashing@infosec.pub 5 points 3 months ago

Are semi-automatic 3d printed guns legal in the US?

[-] FireTower@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

In most states. It's no different than doing it with a mill legally.

[-] scoobford@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 months ago

Yes, although iirc you are required By law to embed a metal plate for your serial number.

Also on a practical level, you need metal parts of the thing falls apart pretty immediately. 3d printed gun parts can be useful, but 3d printed guns are basically tech demos at this point.

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 11 points 3 months ago

By federal law, you are not required to serialize it (unless you plan to sell it, but if you do that too often then you're a manufacturer and need a license). Some states may require serialization for homemade firearms.

[-] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

For personal use, yes. You are required to add some metal to it though I believe.

[-] TacoNot@mander.xyz 7 points 3 months ago

You have to have a metal barrel for it to function. You might get a single shot of .22lr with a printed barrel.

[-] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 months ago

You're probably right. The ones I'm aware of were single shot with a chunk of metal in the grip.

[-] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 months ago

That's "the liberator." They've come a long way.

this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2024
291 points (87.6% liked)

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