It’s like something out of science fiction: an evil doctor designs the world’s most devastating firearm. Then, with the touch of a button, his computer creates the finished product. Though this is purely an example, 3-D printing technology is just about capable of creating real, working firearms.

In June, engineer Michael Guslick successfully printed out a lower receiver to complete his working homemade gun. Though, Guslick says he cannot create a working gun solely from a 3-D printer.  On his site, he says the problem is the pressure needed in the chamber. He says even the strongest 3-D printing plastics cannot contain this force.

This won’t stop University of Texas student, Cody Wilson, from trying.  In August, Wilson and his friends formed a group called “Defense Distributed” and launched the “Wiki Weapon Project.” They plan to create blueprints for a printable, working gun. Wilson told Forbes that the project is about protecting the right to own a gun, not to promote crime. He says if a person wants to use a gun, they will find a way to get one.

Today, the cheapest 3-D printers cost about $500, which is far less than a laptop computer. With Gun the rate of technology evolution, soon lawmakers and citizens alike may need to consider the ramifications of 3-D printing technology. [via cnet]

____

Mollie Paige is an intern working at the Toronto Standard. You can follow her on twitter @MolliePB

For more, follow us on twitter @torontostandard and subscribe to our newsletter.