Kids These Days Are 3-D Printing "Brass" Knuckles

Yes, weapons can be made from the 3-D printers. This is not a shock. A person can pick up a rock and bang you in the head too. I carry a Geber tool on my belt. It is a tool and not a knife. It is how the person carrying the tool and their intending use that makes it a weapon.

I feel the technology for the 3-D printers is just fine.

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Science sees no further than what it can sense, i.e. facts.
Religion sees beyond the senses, i.e. faith.
Open your mind and see!

is this really a shock? humans use technology to make weapons. a modified laser pointer is dangerous, a modified disposable camera is dangerous, a baseball bat is dangerous.

its technology, not a miracle cute for human natures desire to injure each other

The reason why brass knuckles are dangerous is because of the weight they pack.

For that reason plastic knuckles are likely not going to do much more damage then bare knuckles. Of course they would offer some protection to the perp's knuckles.

In fact, I would be willing to bet that a roll of quarters (readily available from practically any corner store) is going to do much more damage than a pair of plastic knuckles.

So if in turn less thugs are running around with plastic knuckles instead of brass or a roll of quarters, I say GOOD!

What you have to remember is that it was just this kids version of a 3D printer that just used plastic. They have printers that can also print metal and ceramics. Let me tell you a ceramic blade with a metal core can do a lot of damage.

In the end though the printer is just a tool just as any blade or anything else you might make, it is how you use it that makes it a weapon.

the question isn't "should this be legal" it's more along the lines of "should it be regulated" my answer is no. for one it's not going to be illegal because this kind of technology is like the assembly line or the modern factory. this kind of product technology is too fiscally "good" to take a back seat to legislation. should it be regulated however is a tougher decision, the easiest way to regulate it from a politicians standpoint is to say that anyone fabricating banned products (coshs, "brass" knuckles, other implements of pain) will have their machine confiscated and be charge with a federal offense possibly linked to weapons dealing. then go get a cup of coffee and call it a day.

however this is downright stupid, i don't think that any regulations or extra legislation should be added for the use and inevitable misuse of 3-D printing technology. the responsibility of this being used correctly lies in the hands of the public, anything that the government tries to do will never stop this kind of use if it becomes even more common place. and the best way to combat it would be the same way we combat the driving age, it is a scary thought having someone too young behind the wheel of a car so besides the legislation and all of that stuff allowing your 10 year old kid to drive on the road is going to get you a very angry mob outside your door very soon. just like the driving age this is also nill when it comes to private property, my sister and my brother first drove on my grandfathers farm when they were 7 and 9 respectively and everyone managed alright.

besides they are doing it wrong, they have to leave holes in the knuckles to fit machine screws in so they have some kind of metal to flesh action going on. either way getting hit with plastic knuckles is like getting hit with a woman's vibrator, it can't hurt any more than a normal punch and in the end it's your pride which is more wounded than your face.

to mars or bust!

Kids these days, geez. When I was in shop class all we did was make weapons and paraphernalia, that's nothing like what these kids are doing. Oh wait... I don't know how many juvenile delinquents have access to 3D printers but I hear they are the new hot items on the street. Gone are the days of guns, drugs and electronics. Gangs traffic in scientific/lab equipment now.

Whatever happened to the right of self defense or the right to bear arms? Far too many of you sheeple forget the purpose of laws and what is actually illegal. Let me remind you...

1) Something is illegal if it infringes upon another human being's rights

2) Among those inalienable rights are the right to LIFE, LIBERTY, and PROPERTY

3) Therefore, owning or bearing a weapon in self defense is not illegal.

And there is another point that I should bring up. Far too many people conflate the term "arms" with "firearms". These are completely different terms in case you didn't know. An "arm" is any item that can be used as a weapon. In the Marine Corps, there is the saying "One mind, any weapon" and we are taught to use ANYTHING and everything as a weapon if need be. That includes our own bodies. In fact, I can use a sharpie or bic pen as effectively as a weapon as much as they are effective as a writing implement.

Oh, and need I mention that the battles of Lexington and Concord were started when the colonists' own military (the redcoats) stole from them their arms in the form of canons and rifles and deposited them in the armories under armed guard. So be careful saying that ANY weapon should be banned because there are still those of us just waiting to do some live action historical reenactments with upgraded weaponry and the full knowledge that this nation's military will be on our side when the time comes.

Thank you SgtB.
I was about to point out that anyone who knows about weapons will tell you that anything can be a weapon.

Which do you think will do more damage, a brass knuckle (obvious a weapon) or my Phillips screwdriver (obvious a tool)?
What if I just 3D print the mold, or just individual parts? Are they going to make all physical objects illegal without a license then?

I find this extremely Trivial due to the fact that the tools required to make a machine gun would cost less than a 3d printer, and require less knowledge to use. Besides it would be quicker to simply carve them out of plastic, rather than take the time to write the code, and wait for it to print.

However, it is illegal to print the lower receiver of an M16, M4, or AR-15 rifle.

You could kill a person by slamming their head against a wall. You can beat a man senseless with a chair. A broken spatula could be used as a shank.

3D printing is just an expensive way to get weapons.

And SgtB, I thank you for your service, my dad was in the 1st Cav. Division, and with the Engineers.

Hooah!

Technology always gravitates down to the layman.
Soon, you'll be able to make your own A-Bomb.