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NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

tomshardware.com

21–30 of 111 posts

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#21

Chris Rock solved this ages ago: "We don't have a gun problem, we have a bullet problem." Make bullets very expensive and hard to get. It makes much more sense to control the supply of gunpowder (and bullets) than that of 3d printers (or guns for that matter).

Wouldn't that make it harder to train and safely handle a weapon?

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#22

A lot of people forget that the word "press" in the phrase "freedom of the press" refers to an actual printing press, not the modern term that people confuse for corporate journalism. The 3D printing presses should remain equally free. If and when someone commits a crime with a piece of technology, that is when to charge them. We should not normalize the presumption of criminal intent, nor restrict even those that ha…

What about a future machine that has the possibility of 3D printing 20 MT nuclear weapons?

That is some real whataboutism though. You can build a gun with a machine shop too. You don't need a background check to buy a lathe though, do you?

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#23

A lot of people forget that the word "press" in the phrase "freedom of the press" refers to an actual printing press, not the modern term that people confuse for corporate journalism. The 3D printing presses should remain equally free. If and when someone commits a crime with a piece of technology, that is when to charge them. We should not normalize the presumption of criminal intent, nor restrict even those that ha…

What about a future machine that has the possibility of 3D printing 20 MT nuclear weapons?

What purpose did this comment serve for you? What, honestly, were you trying to convey? I'm confused.

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#24

Chris Rock solved this ages ago: "We don't have a gun problem, we have a bullet problem." Make bullets very expensive and hard to get. It makes much more sense to control the supply of gunpowder (and bullets) than that of 3d printers (or guns for that matter).

I don't think that would solve anything. If a criminal is willing to get a gun by illegal means, why wouldn't they be willing to do the same for ammunition?

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#25

A lot of people forget that the word "press" in the phrase "freedom of the press" refers to an actual printing press, not the modern term that people confuse for corporate journalism. The 3D printing presses should remain equally free. If and when someone commits a crime with a piece of technology, that is when to charge them. We should not normalize the presumption of criminal intent, nor restrict even those that ha…

What about a future machine that has the possibility of 3D printing 20 MT nuclear weapons?

If it requires enriched uranium ink then that's fine.

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#26
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about a future machine that has the possibility of 3D printing 20 MT nuclear weapons?

That is some real whataboutism though. You can build a gun with a machine shop too. You don't need a background check to buy a lathe though, do you?

> You don't need a background check to buy a lathe though, do you?

Not yet...

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#27

Chris Rock solved this ages ago: "We don't have a gun problem, we have a bullet problem." Make bullets very expensive and hard to get. It makes much more sense to control the supply of gunpowder (and bullets) than that of 3d printers (or guns for that matter).

I agree it's worth the legal debate, we have plenty of laws around controlled substances living on the fringes of constitutionality, why not add gunpowder as a schedule 2 substance?

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if you buy parts and build one yourself? Ghost printers.

Exactly. Just as 3D printers can print most of a gun, they can also print most of a printer.

I'm now imaging a Breaking Bad style AMC television series centering around 3D Printers. "He's smuggling a small gear he's guilty full cavity search."

"You think it's harmless when kids start playing with legos, but soon that isn't enough, they just gotta go bigger."

"Listen we get one seed printer in and we can dominate the rest of the competition!"

"Waltuh, the filament is making me light headed Waltuh!"

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about a future machine that has the possibility of 3D printing 20 MT nuclear weapons?

If we get to the point where we are able to 3D print 20 MT nuclear weapons we've probably got replicators from star trek at that point living in a post scarcity society and then I will be 3D printing me a space ship to "Boldly go where no man has gone before."

I'm not sure what the HN guidelines are for commenting about other comments but if your earlier comment was in jest/sarcasm, it might help to add an /s

Re: NY Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers

#30

Chris Rock solved this ages ago: "We don't have a gun problem, we have a bullet problem." Make bullets very expensive and hard to get. It makes much more sense to control the supply of gunpowder (and bullets) than that of 3d printers (or guns for that matter).

making bullets is even easier...especially if you have old spent brass
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