The FGC-9, a 3D-printed firearm designed to evade regulations, is rapidly spreading worldwide, challenging traditional gun control measures and forensic techniques.
Rapid technological change is driving the world into a new era of gun making, leaving global authorities scrambling to keep control. 3D printed guns, once confined to the realms of science fiction are now a burgeoning reality and armful authorities trying to catch up.
Leading the way in this trend is a firearm that law enforcement says is, by far, 3D-printed gun on Earth: The FGC-9. But what makes this weapon so significant?
The FGC-9 is different because it sets a new standard for what homemade firearms can be. As opposed to early 3D-printed guns that necessitated the purchase of regulated parts, anyone suitably mechanically inclined with some basic metal-working skills can make every last bit and parcel of an FGC-9.
This development has sent shockwaves through international law enforcement communities. The FGC-9 has already been tracked in 15 countries, many with strict gun control laws. Swedish Customs police intelligence officer Kristian Abrahamsson puts it bluntly: “It’s not just a gun. It is also an ideology.”
The ideology in question? A libertarian-tinged belief in unrestricted access to firearms, free from government oversight. Groups like Deterrence Dispensed, which released the FGC-9 plans in 2020, explicitly designed the weapon to circumvent gun laws.
The larger number of newly inaccessible “ghost guns” there are, the greater concern that harm will be wrought by them. The broader concern centering on 3D-printed items that have been termed “switches” by law enforcement personnel. Such devices, referred to as bump stocks in the past, can be used on legal semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic.
The legal landscape surrounding these weapons remains murky. In the United States, regulations vary by state, with the Biden administration pushing for stricter controls. Internationally, some countries have taken a hard line – in Britain, merely possessing the FGC-9 instruction manual can be considered a terrorist offense.
As 3D-printed guns continue to evolve, becoming easier to build and more reliable, they’re increasingly showing up in criminal investigations. Traditional forensic methods struggle to trace these weapons, leaving law enforcement playing catch-up in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
The question now isn’t whether 3D-printed guns will spread – it’s how governments and society will adapt to their seemingly unstoppable proliferation.
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Alexa Sipes is a U.S. tech journalist with 5 years of experience, now writing for 360TechInsights. She covers emerging technologies and industry trends across North America, Europe, and Asia. Sipes’ concise reporting offers readers valuable insights into the latest tech news, innovations and the companies behind them.
Feel free to reach out to me at AlexaSipes@360techinsights.com.
