3-D printed guns: How different?

It’s a scary new wrinkle in the gun-control debate that has captured the attention of gun-control advocates and politicians.

Criminals in the comfort of their own homes could fire up their computer, download a file and use a printer to make a gun.

But just how dangerous are so-called 3-D printed guns, and why has this emerged as a hot topic?

Here are some things you need to know:

How much does a 3-D printer cost?

A 3-D printer is an emerging technology, available for sale online for as cheaply as a few hundred dollars, that uses computer design files to produce real-world objects. Gun experts, though, say a 3-D printer capable of producing a firearm likely would cost thousands of dollars. The process requires some technical know-how that goes beyond hitting a print button, experts say.

Why is this an issue now?

Defense Distributed, an Austin-Texas-based nonprofit group, has developed blueprints that would enable people to produce a single-shot handgun made almost entirely of plastic. In 2013, the State Department ordered the group to remove design files for 3-D printed guns. The group sued and reached a settlement last month that allowed it to begin publishing the information on Aug. 1. But on the evening of July 31, a judge issued a temporary restraining order in response to a legal challenge from state attorneys general that prevents the information from being published.

How much of a threat are “plastic” 3-D guns?

A 2013 CNN report on a study by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives found 3-D printed guns can be both unreliable and deadly. One ATF video of a test showed a 3-D printed gun disintegrating into pieces when fired. But other guns test fired successfully multiple times, according to CNN’s report.

What are “ghost guns”?

This term refers to homemade guns that are assembled from parts that can be purchased online. Federal law does not bar people from making these guns, and the firearms don’t require a serial number. A license is required to manufacture guns for sale or distribution. A federal law exists that prohibits the manufacture or ownership of a gun capable of evading a metal detector.