BBC Trending: Print and shoot - The spread of 3D-printed guns

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.3 • 2.6K Ratings

🗓️ 28 May 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A growing number of incidents have highlighted the dangers of 3D-printed ‘ghost guns’, untraceable firearms that can be assembled at home with the help of a 3D printer and a set of blueprints. Since the first design appeared in 2013, 3D-printed gun technology has advanced rapidly. Some models can now fire hundreds or thousands of rounds without their plastic components failing. Although these weapons are illegal in many jurisdictions, designs, parts, and blueprints continue to spread on social media. We explore the growing popularity of 3D-printed weapons online.

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's the 4th of December 2024.
0:05.2	Brian Thompson, CEO of United Healthcare, is fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel.
0:12.2	Five days later, police arrest a suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione.
0:18.3	He's charged with murder, to which he later pleads not guilty.
0:22.9	During a search of Mangione's backpack, police say they find a 3D printed pistol and silencer.
0:29.9	Their photo of the alleged murder weapon goes viral on social media, and within hours
0:35.3	experts identify it as the Chairman 1 V1. It's a partially 3D
0:40.4	printed model, capable of firing multiple shots without its plastic components breaking.
0:46.7	The incident highlights how sophisticated 3D printed firearms have become, allowing anyone
0:52.8	to make an untraceable gun at home.
0:55.6	I think it may be the single biggest advertisement for 3D printed guns that we've seen,
1:01.4	and it really sounded an alarm across the country that 3D printed guns aren't a problem of
1:07.6	the future. They're a problem right now. I'm Dan Hardoon.
1:12.2	And for BBC trending, I'm investigating how social media has become central to the promotion
1:17.2	of 3D printed guns.
1:18.9	This is a new era of weapons trafficking where gun traffickers can actually just get on a massive
1:25.0	megaphone and pay for reach.
1:27.2	I've challenged people offering guns for sale on social media. get on a massive megaphone and pay for reach.
1:31.1	I've challenged people offering guns for sale on social media.
1:32.8	Why are you selling guns?
1:35.5	Because I want to say, boy, it's my business. Why are you asking questions?
1:40.7	And 3D printed gun advocates who believe this technology should be widely available.
	...

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