UK Government Considers Criminalizing the Possession or Distribution of Gun 3D Printing Files

The UK government is currently consulting on proposals which would offer law enforcement agencies more power to tackle serious crime, including 3D printed weaponry. They are considering the criminalization of the ‘making, modification, supply and possession’ of ‘articles for use in serious crime’. You might wonder what this has to do with 3D printing, but the government includes on this list the digital files from which 3D printed guns can be made.

3D printed weapons were invented in 2013 in the US, and grew in popularity when the Covid-19 pandemic closed borders, thus cutting out smuggling. They have progressed from being unreliable to being a legitimate worry for the police. By nature unregulated, the concern (aside from unlicensed guns in all forms being illegal in certain countries, including the UK) lies in the ability of ordinary people to be able to make one at home, thus bypassing legal restrictions and with a lower chance of being caught. The concept has certainly captured public attention: the Victoria and Albert Museum in London holds the world’s first 3D printed handgun, nicknamed the Liberator.

The Liberator, the world’s first 3D printed handgun, is on display at the V&A Museum. (Photo credit: Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

What Concerns Do the UK Government Outline In This Proposal?

They want to tackle the lack of legal repercussions for criminals producing digital devices for crime, and point out that hybrid firearm designs of a mix of 3D printing and easily-accessible metal parts pose a large threat to security. Indeed, according to the National Crime Agency, 3D printed guns are now a ‘credible’ option for criminals.