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How Digital Fabrication has Disrupted the Gun Control Argument: People Can Now Build Their Own AR-15s and Other Firearms

It is now easy to manufacture your own unregistered guns at home--even out of PLA plastic

By Rain Noe - February 28, 2018

in Digital Fabrication

The gun control debate may be over. In order to understand why, we need to look at the anatomy of the AR-15, the assault rifle that's currently dominating the headlines.

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One reason that the AR-15 is popular among gun enthusiasts is because it's infinitely customizable. Owners can select from a variety of different barrels, stocks, upper receivers, scopes and sights; the Ballistic Advantage blog refers to the AR-15 as "LEGO kits for adults." Those parts can be purchased from a variety of manufacturers with little difficulty.

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If all of those parts can be swapped, then what makes an AR-15 an AR-15? Technically, it's this:

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That's called the lower receiver. The lower receiver houses the grip, the trigger assembly, the safety, the magazine and the magazine release button. The lower receiver is the only part of the rifle with a serial number on it--because it's the only part that the government regulates. If you want to manufacture, import or sell the lower receiver, you need a Federal Firearms License, or FFL.

To skirt this, a variety of companies manufacture what are called "80% lower receivers:"

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These are cast and partially machined billets of aluminum or polymer that are, as the title implies, roughly 80% of what a finished lower receiver is; they lack the final machining to accommodate the moving parts that would make it work. There is no legal obligation to put serial numbers on these and they can be purchased for as little as $50. In the eyes of the law, this is not a firearm, just a chunk of metal. The images below are how the ATF defines them:

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With a drill press, a milling machine and some patience, one could pocket out the space for the trigger, the fire control cavity and the holes for the pins, bringing the part to completion. This is legal, if you're making it for yourself. According to the ATF, "Firearms may be lawfully made by persons who do not hold a manufacturer's license under the GCA [Gun Control Act] provided they are not for sale or distribution and the maker is not prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms."

Previously, someone would still need some mechanical aptitude and access to machine tools to complete a lower receiver. But now Defense Distributed, the "anti-monopolist digital publishing" company founded by Cody Wilson to promulgate the efficacy of DIY digitally-fabricated firearms, has largely removed that last barrier by creating the Ghost Gunner.

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The Ghost Gunner (now in its second iteration) is a highly precise, $1,675 desktop-sized open-source CNC mill with a horizontal spindle. With this machine, virtually anyone can turn 80% lower receivers for AR-15s and M1911 pistols into finished, functioning parts.

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In the first half of the video below, you'll see just how easy this is to do. In the second half, you'll see a 3D-printed-gun hobbyist who has managed to design and print a firearm with a lower receiver made from PLA plastic. Plastic was previously deemed not durable enough for firearms applications, but said hobbyist estimates he has fired roughly 5,000 rounds with his and it's still ticking:

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In the video below, Wilson explains what led him to create the Ghost Gunner, and the answer was not the typical pro-gun rhetoric that I expected:

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Lastly, here's Andy Greenberg from Wired, a man who admits he has no experience with tools, seeing if he can build his own AR-15:

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It goes without saying that this makes our current gun legislation, and the debate we're so evenly split on, kind of moot. We already don't know the precise number of assault rifles currently in circulation in the U.S. And that refers to just the ones that have serial numbers and were legally purchased. Now that virtually anyone can build one without reporting it, tracking these guns, let alone regulating who can and cannot have them, seems virtually impossible.

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Keith Moore

5 years ago

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The gun control debate is not over, the NRA just cynically manipulates it. The premise for this article, which seems shockingly tone deaf after the Florida shooting, is that there's nothing we can do against gun violence, because anyone can easily make one. I keep hearing this "there's nothing we can do" argument, and it's BS. We're the only country where this happens on a regular basis because our politicians lack to the will to affect change out of fear of losing their jobs. Taking the long view, our present gun culture and the NRA's stance is creating a generation that will be voting against it and likely creating a formidable gun control platform in their future. By continuing to put the second amendment ahead of lives and reason, it's going to become the new cigarette, slow phasing out as people recognize that its hazards outweigh its pleasures.

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Alex Netz

5 years ago

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As a Canadian looking at the us gun control issue as an outsider, it appears that the debate's ultimate unspoken question is:
Are Americans willing to give up part of their constitutional right in order to maybe make it more difficult for for a mass tragedy to take place?
Overwhelmingly, americans have answered "no".

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Jeffrey Ayer

5 years ago

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Just following the logic of this article, I suppose that it should be simple to use these same tools to create an automatic rifle (e.g., M16), so perhaps we should just allow those to be sold legally?

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- 1stlvl Humanoid
  
  Jeffrey Ayer
  
  5 years ago
  
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  You can purchase fully automatic machine guns, but they are much more strictly regulated than semi-autos. And yes, there are many illegally modified machineguns in people's homes across the country. They rarely, if ever get used in mass shootings.
  
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Giorgio Santero

5 years ago

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This article is pathetic. It’s like saying: the “car certification thing” is going to end because anyone can weld a frame and buy a crate engine and build a super powerful illegal racecar. Mr. Noe is a super smart person and I enjoy reading his articles, but is not new to those kind of nonesense articles when it comes to weapons, showing a fearful and logicless attachment to this topic. As seen from Europe, this whole US gun debate is so wild and stupid that contrasts with taking place in a country that is so advanced.

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- 1stlvl Humanoid
  
  Giorgio Santero
  
  5 years ago
  
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  A gun is not a car. The article is relevant to the political debate in the US. If politicians want to convince people that they will be safe if they take everyone's guns away, they will have a tough time selling that idea if people can make unregistered guns in their home. Aside from that, you have to understand that the right to have weapons is enshrined in the US Constitution specifically for the purpose of recognizing the peoples' right to be equipped to resist tyranny. You may think that is stupid coming from Europe, but I don't and many Americans don't.
  
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Donald Jones

5 years ago

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I think we should only be allowed Founding Fathers Rifles. Black Powder flint Locks with no rifling
in the barrels. A license is required for rifles. We can form all the Militias we want. 50K penalty per annum for those who don't comply. Garnish their wages through the IRS, if they don't pay. Still get guns to fight off criminals, just need to be a really good shot. Think of all the range time.
Allow people to carry swords again. The rapier was a mighty fine weapon for self defense.

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John T

5 years ago

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Rain,
Thank you for an article that shows you took some time to understand what you're talking about. I understand the fear around guns and the desire to stop shootings, but don't appreciate the way many people are happy to propose solutions that show a lack of understanding. I think most gun owners are reasonable people, who are willing to listen to ideas, as long as they aren't being demonized and that everyone is grounded in the facts.

Unfortunately, facts and civility seem to be lacking in more areas than just gun control. Thanks for what you do.

- John

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Steve W.

5 years ago

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Rain,

1. Strawman and a pointless useless response designed to try and shut down discussion with emotion to cover for a lack of facts and understanding. Yes it's sad when people die. But let's be honest, kids are more likely to be killed in a car accident than a shooting. There are about 15000 gun related homicides per year, and like 90+% of them are drug and gang related.

2. https://m.fieldandstreamshop.com/p/ruger-mini-14-ranch-rifle-15jscurgmn14223blspg/15jscurgmn14223blspg

3. Thank you, yes, and as I never said anyone here did I'm confused as to why you wasted your time telling me?

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- Steve W.
  
  Steve W.
  
  5 years ago
  
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  Also, an AR15 isn't an assault rifle, education is a choice, but so is ignorance I suppose
  
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Brad Johnson

5 years ago

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The image you posted of an AR-15 lower deemed a "Firearm" is not accurate. That thing is like 82%, and still would not be considered a firearm.

I think the 80% lowers should be regulated like a firearm. It is relatively easy to make, unlike the 1911. Those things are incredibly difficult to manufacture, not to mention expensive. You would need to spend about $1,200+ to complete one on the low end (not including tools/bits), and it is much easier and faster to buy an illegal firearm off the street for like $200, or less. You could have gone with the 80% Glock which is easier to manufacture, but again is cost prohibitive.

Regarding the Ghost Gunner company, I remember hearing a lot of negative things about them. I also don't like that they're basically promoting people in California (where I live) to "hurry up and break the law" with their countdown clock. We already have laws in place to prevent what they are promoting.

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Mrten Boi

5 years ago

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Laws on murder haven't stopped people murdering each other, doesn't mean there shouldn't be laws on murder.

If there's going to be a problem with 3d printers making guns, there's going to be a lawmaker who is going to try to do something about it, like, in the past, copiers not copying money. This does not mean that the solution is going to be pretty though because as they say "bad cases make bad law".

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- Steve W.
  
  Mrten Boi
  
  5 years ago
  
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  There already are laws on guns, the issue is that they arent enforced properly or punished severely enough for breaking.
  
  The biggest issue is that too many ignorant people get involved with the debate talking about "assault weapons" and cheering on a major sporting good store for no longer selling the AR-15 while still selling the Mini 14 which is the same gun without all of that scary "assault plastic" on it.
  
  Guns aren't going anywhere in this country, its literally impossible to remove guns from American culture, and honestly a major waste of time to try.
  
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  - Rain Noe
    
    Steve W.
    
    5 years ago
    
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    1Z
    
    Steve,
    
    1. "The
    biggest issue is that too many ignorant people get involved with the
    debate..." No, I would argue that the biggest issue is that children are being shot.
    
    2. I can't find the Mini 14 on Dick's Sporting Goods' website. Is it being sold in person at a Dick's near you?
    
    3. "Guns
    aren't going anywhere in this country, its literally impossible to
    remove guns from American culture, and honestly a major waste of time to
    try." Nowhere in the article, nor in Mrten's comments, was removing guns from American culture mentioned. You're the first person to bring that up in this discussion.
    
    1. "
    
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