3-D printed guns appearing on British Streets

In recent years, 3D-printed gun technology has advanced rapidly. 3D-printed guns are popular in the US, where guns are legal, but they are also appearing more frequently in the UK. While firearms are illegal in the UK, the files needed to print them are not hard to find.

Those creating and sharing designs have thousands of followers on social media sites, such as Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. The models range from semi-automatic rifles to pistols.

Sky News has reported that a community of mostly American males has emerged online that share their designs, distribute them for free, and post videos of themselves testing out the guns.

Recent mass shootings in the US have reignited the debate surrounding access to firearms. This includes access to 3D-printed guns, though they are not known to be used in such attacks. Despite the UK having some of the strict gun laws in Europe, 3D-printed guns are showing up. The Metropolitan Police told Sky News in an interview that printed firearms are an “emerging trend” that they are actively monitoring.