
Inside a 3-D printed gun —
Defense Distributed, a Texas nonprofit group, posted a YouTube video it says shows the first live firing of a handgun entirely created with a 3-D printer.

Inside a 3-D printed gun —
The group's "Wiki Weapon Project" is about a year old, but Defense Distributed had not been able to claim firing a 3-D-printed gun until now. The 3-D printing process works by stacking thin layers of molten plastic to create objects.

Inside a 3-D printed gun —
Shown here are parts that go into the plastic gun, called The Liberator. Everything in the gun can be printed except for its metal firing pin, claims the Texas group.

Inside a 3-D printed gun —
A 25-year-old Texas law student, Cody Wilson, founded the Defense Distributed group and has posted instructions online so anyone with the right kind of 3-D printer can make a similar gun.

Inside a 3-D printed gun —
The concept of 3-D printing is relatively new and has created concerns about what objects some people may want to make. Some have called for bans of printed weapons, while for others the devices represent a new path to freedom.

Inside a 3-D printed gun —
Anyone can buy a desktop 3-D printer for several thousand dollars. Critics fear 3-D printed guns could be too easily accessible to the wrong people.

Inside a 3-D printed gun —
The plastic guns would be invisible to metal detectors, creating potential security worries.

Inside a 3-D printed gun —
Wilson has said he believes it is important for people to have the freedom to use a printed weapon, even if there is a chance it could land in a criminal's hands.


