‘Printed weapon’ fear in Prez move

THE TRUMP administration’s proposed rules making it easier for gun manufacturers to sell firearms overseas could have unforeseen consequences.

The transfer of oversight of gun exports to the Department of Commerce could allow companies the opportunity to distribute instructions for virtually untraceable 3-D-printing weapons — skirting current gun export laws.

Open-source technology such as 3-D printing plans for firearms would be regulated by the Commerce Department, which has its own rules and would not invoke arms export law — meaning anyone, anywhere could conceivably make their own guns free from tracking or oversight.

Experts fear that such a scenario could prove devastating as 3-D printing technology improves.