100,000 Downloads And Still Counting
The 3D-printable gun has now been downloaded over a hundred thousand times according to this report on the BBC. Here’s part of the report.
Californian senator Leland Yee said he wanted a law passed to stop the manufacture of 3D-printed guns.
“I plan to introduce legislation that will ensure public safety and stop the manufacturing of guns that are invisible to metal detectors and that can be easily made without a background check,” he said in a statement.
According to Defense Distributed, most of the 100,000 downloads have been in the US, followed by Spain, Brazil, Germany and the UK.
The blueprint has also been uploaded to file-sharing site the Pirate Bay, where it has become the most popular file in the site’s 3D-printing category.
Calls to make such a gun illegal and stop the downloading, will fall on deaf ears. After all to create an illegal gun factory, all you need is a few thousand pounds or dollars to buy a quality 3D printer. Many aspire to have a weapon for personal protection or to settle scores with rivals or neighbours.
This gun is still crude and what worries me is not this gun, but the follow on designs, that will be possible as 3D printing gets more affordable and a lot better.
How long will it be before a crime is committed using a gun, that has been downloaded from the Internet and printed?
The Dangers Of 3D Printing
I’m a great believer in 3D printing, as it is a technique, that would have helped me greatly in the past, with some of the companies, in which I invested.
But this story, where some idiots in Texas, have designed a gun produced on a 3D printer horrifies me. Their aim seems to be to give everybody an affordable firearm.
But how do you police such a technology as 3D printing?
You can’t! Especially, as in a few years time, it will be one of the mainstays of small scale manufacturing.
They Do Things Big In Las Vegas
This story from Las Vegas shows one of the reasons why I will never go to that dump again. It really is a supremely tacky place, especially if you see it as it gets up in the morning, with the lights off.
I suppose a holiday in Syria might be a bit quieter.
Guns And Alcohol Don’t Mix
If ever there was a story that proves that guns and alcohol don’t mix it is this one of the tragic death of Royal Navy officer; Ian Molyneux.
When my youngest son was doing some training to see if he wanted to join the Guards, he forgot to take his boots. So I drove them down to Pirbright and gave them in at the gate. The sentry was a bit strange and actually pointed his weapon at me. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but he too could have been drinking. I do know that I was distinctly uneasy at his behaviour and made a rather quick getaway.
The last time, I came across a sentry with a weapon, was when I went over HMS Liverpool. But I didn’t feel any unease at all, as the sentry was female and she handled it impeccably.
An Unintended Consequence Of Guns In US Schools
The NRA’s proposal to have armed guards in every school will lead to an unintended consequence.
Teachers showed at Sandy Hook that they are prepared to do anything to protect the children in their care. And some died!
Some, and I’ve not seen any figures, will accept the armed guards and would even arm themselves if they were asked.
But a proportion would feel that guns in a school was totally unacceptable. Many of these could easily find alternative employment or perhaps would be at an age where retirement is an option.
Could the US school system cope with a loss of a proportion of its teachers?
Since The Sandy Hook Massacre 500 Have Died In The States From Guns.
This is being reported in the Independent. This is the first paragraph.
Since the outrage that shocked the world, another 500 Americans have died because of absurd gun Laws. They include a boy, just 3, a church volunteer and a victim of road rage. And the solution? More guns, says the NRA. Unbelievable…
By comparison in the UK, there are about 60 murders with guns in an average year.
What Would The NRA Do About This?
Two fire-fighters have been shot dead and two have been injured in New York state. It’s reported here.
So what does the NRA think about this one? Perhaps the fire department, should go in with all guns blazing?
Sort of fight fire with fire!
Piers Morgan Annoys The Gun Lobby
According to this article on the BBC, Piers Morgan has annoyed the gun lobby in the States, so much they want him deported.
Piers Morgan’s response has been robust.
“If I do get deported from America for wanting fewer gun murders, are there any other countries that will have me?” the 47-year-old joked after the 25,000-signature threshold was past.
Later, he added: “Wanting America to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines isn’t anti-constitutional – it’s called ‘common sense.'”
As to Larry Pratt of a group called Gun Owners of America! He’s what we call on this side of the Atlantic; a complete pratt. I remember someone with a similar name being referred to as Pratt in name and pratt in nature.
The World’s Gone Mad
Two stories today go a fair way to prove my theory.
We have the statement from the NRA in response to the shooting of twenty-six in Connecticut, which is reported here on the BBC. This is a couple of chilling paragraphs.
Mr LaPierre called for a national database of the mentally ill and blamed violent video games and films for portraying murder as a “way of life”.
He spoke out against the media for demonising lawful gun owners, and for suggesting a ban on certain types of weapon would be effective.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” Mr LaPierre told reporters.
But who checks that good guys are really good guys and not bad ones in disguise.
Wayne LaPierre is Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Assocation. I only hope that Europe bans him and his views from the continent.
We also have the tragic case of Neon Taylor as reported here on the BBC. In some ways with this case, I think it might be a hopeless one, as the cancer is just too aggressive I speak with hindsight here, as my late wife died from a very aggressive cancer for which there was no remedy. If that is the case with Neon, you had better let the doctors do their best, but at the end of the day, it would be sensible to let nature take its course and do your utmost to make the poor child as comfortable as possible.
That may be hard, but I had a granddaughter born with all sorts of problems. Doctors gave her a chance of 50/50 of surviving. By their own immense skill they proved themselves wrong. Ten years later, she is very fit and well.
Sometimes, I feel that a lot of people put their own crackpot theories above the good of those they say they are protecting.
US Gun Statistics
This article on US gun statistics is fascinating.
You can draw your own conclusions, but I will say this. Everybody who dies in a shooting, whether deliberate or by accident, is a tragedy for more than just that person.
I know what grief feels like and it’s not pleasant!
The Anonymous Widower 