These unregistered weapons, known as “ghost guns,” are made with plastic parts printed by a 3D machine, along with metal components.
In the past 12 months, ghost guns have been seized in every state and territory.
So, how does someone just print a gun?
On Tuesday morning’s episode of The Briefing, we sit down with Skeeve Stevens, a futurist and expert in the weaponisation of technology.
He explains how easy it is to print a gun, and what he thinks law enforcement and the government can do to stop it.
The surge of 3D printed guns has led to a national task force dedicated to stopping their spread. Despite this, experts warn that attempts to control them might be a losing battle.
“A kid at home with a printer, and he could print a gun without much effort,” he said.
The guns are highly dangerous, with some models capable of firing up to 30 rounds without reloading.
“The biggest problem with these, so they’re called ghost guns, and that’s one of the biggest issues is that the police cannot track them in any way.”
In Australia, creating, possessing, or printing a 3D gun can lead to severe penalties. In NSW, offenders can face up to 14 years in prison.
In Tasmania, the sentence could be as high as 21 years.
“I would think that the government can’t really do anything to stop it if they see it for sale… Realistically, from the government’s perspective, it’s no different from illicit drugs.”
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