This Man Just Fired the World’s First 3-D Printed Gun

Exhibiting no concern for the inevitably deadly consequences of his actions, 25-year-old Texas law student Cody Wilson hopes to bring about “a complete explosion of all available gun laws” with his designs for 3-D printable firearms.

The man whom The Guardian describes as possessing a “forward, affable charm” plans to release the blueprint for a gun that can be downloaded from his website, Defense Distributed, and manufactured on demand in plastic form using a 3-D printer.

In anti-social remarks befitting a psychopath, Wilson told the BBC that he is not bothered by the fact that his innovation will almost certainly be used to sidestep regulations and kill people. “I recognise the tool might be used to harm other people,” he said. “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.”

According to Donna Sellers, a representative of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, at present, the do-it-yourself production of firearms is legal in the United States.

Wilson says that homemade guns like the Liberator (which can be built using his plan) ought to be available to all people without restriction. He counts himself among the towering figures of the Internet transparency movement such as WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange and Kim Dotcom, founder of the file sharing website Megaupload.

“I number myself among them, at least in spirit,” he told The Guardian. “I think the future is openness to the point of the eradication of government. The state shouldn’t have a monopoly on violence; governments should live in fear of their citizenry.”

Watch the video below. Its propagandistic tones are certain to stir the hearts of scared people who believe unregulated access to firearms is the surest way to guarantee personal liberty. If you think Wilson is crazy for suggesting that homemade guns can stand against the force of the U.S. military, you’re not alone. His failure to grapple with this snag will discredit him in the eyes of many people, and could expose him as someone looking only to make a reputation for himself.

In the Christian tradition, Jesus told his followers to beware of false prophets and saviors. In a country where thousands of people are killed by guns each year, Wilson’s innovation promises to do leagues more harm than good unless severe laws are passed to restrict it. Who knows — maybe the NRA will anticipate a threat to the profits of gun manufacturers and lobby for the legislation itself.

DXLiberty:

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.