A 27-year-old man faces charges for possession of four replica guns made with 3D printing and digital files under Australia’s tight gun laws.

Don’t Miss:

A cautionary tale from Australia, where a 27-year-old man is arrested after attempting to sell a replica gun on Facebook. The allegation is that he had 3D printed it at his home in Sydney.

Listing the replica gun for the princely amount of AU$1 million, the man drew the attention of the Australian authorities. Upon raiding the apartment he shares with his girlfriend, the Australian Police found the replica guns and the files to print them. The imitation firearms — that the man is alleged to have printed — could not fire bullets.

The man, due to appear in court in April, is described as a “fanboy” of wargaming and police television shows. He faces possible 20-year and 14-year prison sentences for both the possession of replica guns and the digital files to create them.

Replica Guns and 3D Printing

Speaking on the arrest, Firearms Squad Detective Inspector Joe Doueilhi had this to say:

“If an imitation or replica firearm was pointed at you, you would treat it as if it was a real firearm. It is very difficult to distinguish through the naked eye whether an imitation firearm is in fact an imitation firearm or whether it is a fully operational firearm.”

Perhaps as good a cautionary tale as they come. Even with the most honest of geekdom intentions, the heavy hammer of laws designed for organized crime hit hard.

Pertinent to this particular case, New South Wales’ laws governing the restriction of firearms tightened in 2015. The changes to the law brought the maker aspect of 3D printing into its remit. Even the possession of digital files to print a gun is now a criminal offence carrying a 14-year sentence.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald