Much like the government has called upon AI developers to seriously rethink the capabilities of their technology before charging forward, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has reached out to the 3D printing industry to assist in preventing the manufacturing of machine gun conversion devices (MCDs). The call for help was expressed in remarks by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.
According to The Register, Monaco emphasized the significant role that 3D printing plays in the proliferation of MCDs, small and inexpensive devices often referred to as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic firearms into automatic weapons. Monaco noted that seizures of these devices have increased by 500% between 2017 and 2021, and they now represent the most frequently recovered illegal firearms by law enforcement.
“We need to engage software developers, technology experts and leaders in the 3D printing industry to identify solutions in this fight,” Monaco said during her address, underscoring the critical role these industries play in halting the spread of such devices. This collaboration mirrors the government’s ongoing push for technology companies to restrict the use of artificial intelligence for harmful purposes.
The Justice Department’s action includes the creation of the Action Network to Terminate Illegal Machinegun Conversion Devices (ANTI-MCD) committee. The committee will focus on enforcement coordination and sharing knowledge with law enforcement agencies to address the growing threat posed by MCDs. Additionally, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will lead a national training initiative to better equip law enforcement officers to detect and respond to MCDs.
As part of the broader effort, the Justice Department reports it has seen success in reducing MCD-related crimes. For instance, in Oklahoma, where the U.S. Attorney has prioritized MCD prosecutions, the number of charges increased from just eight between 2020 and 2022 to 40 in less than a year. Monaco stressed that these initiatives are already having a tangible impact on public safety.
Despite legislative efforts, such as a stalled New York bill requiring background checks for the purchase of 3D printers, Monaco’s remarks emphasize that stopping the production of illegal devices will require cooperation from private industries.
So now guns with a giggle switch installed are also lumped in with being classified as ” ghost guns “, what’s that make, like five categories to pump up the numbers?
Its more than 5 now. Solid blocks of polymer and aluminum are also ‘ghost guns’ now, as are common springs and metals and a few other things. They could literally raid any home and murder the occupants and claim self-defense because they ‘interpreted’ a common household item (e.g. table lamp) was a ‘ghost gun’ because it used a common metal or polymer in its construction.
Sound extreme? Not at all, the ATF literally did it in Arkansas by (self) ‘interpreting’ ‘in the business’ to mean a ‘crime all the time’. They literally created the conditions where a man believing he was defending his home from criminal invaders was ‘murdered’ by them and they claimed basically ‘self-defense’. It is a core principal of legal self-defense, under federal law and in all 50 states law, that one can not create the situation under which such defense would be needed. If it had not been for the ATF being able to hide behind ‘qualified immunity’ they would be charged with murder. He was literally attempting to defend his home from actual criminal invaders hiding behind a badge and qualified immunity and they murdered him because of their self-proclaimed ‘right’ to ‘interpret cause we say so’.
This is what happens when you left left-wing anti-gun loons make up definitions they can fill like buckets with anything they want any time they want.
To whom it may concern: It’s official cackles and tampon tim are Gun owners and they will protect your Second Amendment Right. If you believe that continue wasting time blowing smoke about 3-D printers, ghost guns and other crap that carries no weight during election time. Sans the Trump slandering democrat lint licker geoff Gun owners are supposed to be out saying and doing things to round up votes for TRUMP/VANCE 2024.
And to whom it may concern: When it comes to the Defending what is a colorblind right like the Second Amendment the fukheads who use labels like Chiraq, Chicongo, usual suspects, etc. might as well be peeing on the 2A. Anyone who thinks they can have Bigotry and the Second Amendment on the same plate best realize they are heels up on their knees servicing Gun Control.
TRUMP/VANCE 2024.
Who the hell is going to cooperate with an entity that wants to totally disarm everyone?
Since 3D printing is mostly open source hardware and software what “industry” are they speaking of?
This sounds like the government trying to influence the woodworking industry or the pottery industry.
THIS. You can build a 3D printer from parts at this point and do it readily. Whether or not they will mess with the slicing software is another matter, but from what I remember even a lot of that is open source too! I would argue that the printers could and would be harder to stop than the guns in a lot of ways. There are far more “dual use” parts in a 3D printer.
“…the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has reached out to the 3D printing industry to assist in preventing the manufacturing of machine gun conversion devices (MCDs).”
What an absolute joke.
What does every last single 3-D printer do? It creates whatever the programmer wants. It has ZERO way of knowing what that print is for.
Today, there is a special wax filament you can load in that printer to create lost-wax metal castings. That’s right, you can nearly print a metal gun today with an inexpensive entry-level printer using wax filament to create a mold for molten metal.
They have LOST the war…
Golly don’t most Glock© switches come from China? Of course they ain’t going after them. I am familiar with “lost wax” bronze statues & the like Geoff. It’s been used for hundreds of years. Talk about old timey methods🙄
Ruger still heavily uses a wax
“investment” casting process in most if not all of it’s guns.
And before you all say ” That’s why I don’t buy Rugers” ,they also do contract production for most of their competition through their Pine Tree Castings division.
BFR comes to mind.
If the fellas in the Warsaw Ghetto only had 3d printers… missed by about what, 80 years?
The current anti’s argument against this is either: “that would never happen here” or “if it happened here it’s because you deserved it.”
Arguing against despotic tyranny and large-scale extermination doesn’t work when the people working to disarm you are despotic tyrants hellbent on large-scale extermination.
The oddly had a lot more than that believe it or not. The Russians and the Germans screwed them over. Surprised that they don’t have nukes to enforce their sovereignty honestly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBQ3XXpyBTw&pp=ygUOYmx5c2thd2ljYSBTTUc%3D
My large imagination wonders if they had 3D printers big enough, to make artillery weapons. The ghetto resident would have won against the germans.
An interesting alternative history, like the book,, “Guns of the South”.
I saw this coming years ago when Cody Wilson, first created the first 3D printed gun. The Liberator. And before that he was 3D printing 30 round AR magazines.
This stuff was in 1960s science fiction entertainment. Making stuff with just the push of a button.
The “gun community” will “sell out” to the government. Just so they can keep their break action, single shot long guns. And I will keep saying it.
The “gun community” loves the NFA.
That “plastic glock” is a fading memory. Polymer materials have proven themselves, over the years in a wide variety of manufacturered products.
I believe Karl Marx did say that if a factory could be controlled by the workers, then there would be freedom from the ruling class.
Putting a 3D printer in every american home comes pretty close to that.
Had success by actually prosecuting the criminals involved. Who would have guessed???