Summary

Americans are posting videos about 3D-printed guns on the Chinese video app RedNote, despite the content being illegal in China.

While some users are uncomfortable with the topic, others see it as an opportunity for cultural exchange.

The future of TikTok remains uncertain as the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the ban.

  • IndustryStandard@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    3D printed guns are a meme. Most of them require parts of functional guns such as the barrels, And they require regular ammunition.

    • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      The part you can easily print, however, is the receiver.

      The receiver is the part that’s legally a firearm. While I think it’s neat I can customize my firearms, I do acknowledge that someone who is prohibited from owning a gun can very easily print a receiver and order the rest of the parts from Palmetto State Armory to get a perfectly-functional firearm without any background check being performed.

      I also don’t know the solution to the problem though. As 3D printing, desktop CNC, and other forms of DIY manufacturing improve in quality and decrease in price, it will be very hard to regulate home-brew weapons.

    • Hathaway@lemmy.zip
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      3 days ago

      Electro chemical machining can make a barrel.

      But, idk how any of what you said makes them a “meme”. You can buy a barrel online for cheap, also ammo, and I don’t have to go through a government check. That’s what a lot of these people want to avoid.

      • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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        2 days ago

        Electro chemical machining can make a barrel.

        Yes, but that’s not 3d printing any more.

        It’s a separate process requiring separate tools, materials and skills.

        • Jumpingspiderman@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          But you can make anything with that additional process. SO it’s going to be difficult for a government to lock down those additional processes.

          • mycelium underground@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            I can make barrels and stuff like that on a milling machine and a lathe. Not just shitty parts but better than most big manufacturers put out. Government can’t control manufacturing.

            Still not 3d printing.

            edit: Typo

      • scoobford@lemmy.zip
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        3 days ago

        In most countries, the barrel or other pressures bearing parts are the regulated piece. We are the weird ones for regulating receivers instead.

        • Hathaway@lemmy.zip
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          3 days ago

          Well, the article references Americans, I’m American, so okay?

          Europeans can also get guns mailed to their front door, are we just comparing gun laws?

          • Milk_Sheikh@lemm.ee
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            3 days ago

            Europeans can also get guns mailed to their front door, are we just comparing gun laws?

            I mean, there’s a lot of context surrounding licensing and pre-approval to get that mail order heater in Europe. Local laws vary, yadda yadda

            And if you collect old guns and have a C&R license, you too can get guns delivered to your door in America.

            • Hathaway@lemmy.zip
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              3 days ago

              Oh yeah, 1000%. Also, with a C&R license, you’re not legally purchasing a “firearm”. It’s a curio or relic, but yeah, point still stands.

              Also, none of that has anything to do with the discussion at hand, which was sorta my point.

              • nerdyshades@lemmy.world
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                2 days ago

                I have my 03-FFL, and “Curio & Relic” is a classification that firearms can fall into, defined as firearms manufactured 50-years or more ago. Legally, by definition, you are still purchasing a firearm. You’ve just had more background checks to bypass some of the rules in most states about transfers, if the firearm you are buying qualifies as a “Curio & Relic”.

                  • nerdyshades@lemmy.world
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                    1 day ago

                    Reading my comment back makes it sound more dick-ish than I intended, my bad. You just happened to mention a special interest of mine that I know a lot about.

          • IndustryStandard@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            It mentions sending videos about them to China. Where most of those videos are useless because the parts and ammo are not sold there.