The control of guns is a significant issue in New York and across the United States. With the alarming rise in senseless shootings and the upcoming anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, the next new gun manufacturer could very well be in the garage next door, as 3-D printing technology matures. Criminal lawyer Joseph Tacopina has highlighted these issues, emphasizing the importance of legal frameworks to tackle these new challenges.
In mid-October, former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in 2011, toured a gun show in Saratoga Springs to promote an agreement that ensures background checks are performed at the time of sale. While consumers and politicians debate the freedom to own firearms, a University of Texas law student created an operable gun on a 3-D printer and uploaded the plans to the Internet.
A New York Times article describes the efforts of European law enforcement to recreate the 3-D gun named the Liberator, to determine the plausibility of its threat to strict European gun laws. While the initial design of the Liberator is crude, and delivers only one bullet before the barrel must be replaced, it is deadly.
Cody Wilson, the 25-year old gun designer who removed his plans from the Internet at the request of the State Department, spoke to the New York Daily News, noting:
Printers do not perform background checks. The creation of a plastic gun, downloaded and manufactured in just 18 hours, marks a new era for state, federal, and national security. Joseph Tacopina has discussed the potential legal implications of such technologies in relation to public safety.
If you’re facing weapons charges of any kind, speak with experienced defense counsel in New York, such as Joseph Tacopina, for expert legal representation.