Click, print, shoot: Downloadable guns possible

[Exen Trik]

5. Six shots

Then it falls apart. That's about all that a printed assault weapon is good for at this point. That will change over time, but I'm not sure by how much or when.

I think what we'll be seeing in the future because of this is tighter control of bullets in addition to outlawing possession of unlicensed guns. And depending how this tech grows, the kinds of materials that can be printed with privately could be regulated. If you want to use a high quality printer that can be as strong as metal you might have to go to a licensed and regulated third party business to use it.

The thing most up in the air is the enforcement of copyright in the era of the 3d printer. One will restrict the other, no matter what.