Printing Guns

The Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife may be known as a popular vacation destination, but in September of 2020, it became the location of a high-scale raid by Spanish Police. A raid targeting a factory on the island; ending with Spanish Police finding 19 3D-printed handgun frames, nine magazines, two silencers, and numerous weapon parts. Yes, that’s right. Printed guns.

A replica of an Airsoft AR-15 assault rifle, as well as two tasers, five knives, a machete, and a katana were also found. The factory was 3D printing these gun barrels and rifles at an astonishing rate, with Spanish Police saying the factory contained working 3D-printing equipment capable of producing gun barrels in only two minutes.

Also inside the factory were manuals on terrorism, urban guerilla warfare, and how to make explosives at home using a 3D printer; as well as white supremacist literature and a pistol holster with a Swastika printed on it. 

This is the first such “3D printing weapons factory” in Spain, however this is not the instance of 3D weapons being a real threat in the world. With the Biden administration seeking to tighten gun legislation, they are also reportedly trying to act on 3D printed guns. 

A man in Japan has also recently been sentenced to 2 years in jail after making 2 3D printed guns with lethal power. His 2 plastic revolvers were capable of successfully firing .38 caliber slugs. A total of 1.42 million units of 3D printers were sold in 2018, with that number projected to reach 8 million by 2027. 

And so, Pandora’s box has opened.