Bill would ban 3-D printing of guns
"You can use certain types of plastics and certain types of other material to replicate anything," said Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who sponsored the bill that passed 4-0 in the Public Safety Committee. "What will happen if someone used one of these 3-D printers on a personal use, which we are seeing now, to create an actual firearm? That could be something that's catastrophic."
The possibility of people using 3-D printers, a new technology that so far is uncommon outside of research or prototype-fabrication facilities, to produce weapons raised eyebrows after the anarchic Texas group Defense Distributed posted a YouTube video in May of the "Liberator," a Star Wars-like plastic gun. Many fear that the guns could allow criminals or terrorists to evade metal detectors.
In the past, some city ordinances regarding firearms have been struck down because, in Pennsylvania, state law preempts cities when it comes to guns. But Johnson said that won't be a problem in this case.
"The prohibition that city ordinances can't overcome as it relates to state legislation is primarily ownership, transfer of a firearm. This goes to manufacturing," he said. "We've spoken with the Law Department. We believe that if there is a challenge in the court system, it will be something we'll be able to defeat."
http://articles.philly.com/2013-11-08/news/43827123_1_3-d-printers-3-d-printing-guns
= new reply since forum marked as read
