WA Police have made the largest seizure of 3D printed guns in the state’s history, changing a Perth man with more than 40 offences including trafficking firearms. It has raised questions about whether regulations are keeping up with technological advancements.
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00:0021 lethal weapons, all made on a 3D printer.
00:08These 3D printed firearms, they are not toys, they pose a serious risk to our community.
00:13Police searched a house in Duncraig last week and found 14 homemade firearms, ammunition,
00:19drugs and more than $70,000 in cash.
00:22Two days later they found another 7 3D printed guns buried in bushland in Bulls Brook.
00:29A 36-year-old man has been charged with 45 drug and firearm offences.
00:34I'm glad that we're acting to remove those from our streets.
00:37The more guns, however they're produced, that we can remove off our streets, the better.
00:42WA recently introduced stronger gun laws, making it tougher to obtain licences and putting
00:48a cap on the number of firearms a person can own.
00:51But experts say more needs to be done to regulate the production of 3D printed weapons due to
00:57improved technology.
00:58I do think it's kind of important to kind of update and modernise gun laws to ensure
01:05that they take into account emerging threats.
01:08Dr Remer says it's particularly complex given they don't have serial numbers and are untraceable.
01:16In the meantime, authorities warn of severe penalties.
01:19People with 3D printers are reminded of the serious criminal offences it is to download
01:24schematics of these plans and print firearms.
01:28The penalties involved are severe.
01:30They say further charges are expected.