title: Printing Insecurity? The Security Implications of 3D-Printing of Weapons.
abstract: In 2013, the first gun printed out of plastic by a 3D-printer was successfully fired in the U.S. This event caused a major media hype about the dangers of being able to print a gun. Law enforcement agencies worldwide were concerned about this development and the potentially huge security implications of these functional plastic guns. As a result, politicians called for a ban of these weapons and a control of 3D-printing technology. This paper reviews the security implications of 3D-printing technology and 3D guns. It argues that current arms control and transfer policies are adequate to cover 3D-printed guns as well. However, while this analysis may hold up currently, progress in printing technology needs to be monitored to deal with future dangers pre-emptively.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute for Science Ethics and Innovation, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK. gerald.walther@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walther
mesh_terms: D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D010969:Plastics; D011327:Printing; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence; D054041:Weapons
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics
keywords: 3D-printing; Arms control; Security policy