Why 3D Printing Should Not Be Banned

[PrunesRSweet]

OK, I had to share this. It was something I stole from reddit, but it's really good.

Next time someone tell you that 3D printers should be banned because you can make deadly weapons such as guns, here is what your response should be

"So you want to ban 3D printers because they can be the means to a crime? Yeah, I understand when they can make guns, illegal items and anything that can be used to commit a crime. However,"

• "Motor vehicles can be used to get away from a robbery scene, transport stolen goods, and (gasp), even run over murder targets! Should we ban motor vehicles too?"
  
  
• "While we're at it, clothing can be used as LIGATURES to choke a target to death! Maybe we should ban clothing also?!"
  
  
• "Water bottles, as innocent as they look, can inflict murder by blunt force trauma if thrown hard enough. Especially when filled with water. Wanna ban water bottles now?"
  
• "Oh, speaking of, since WATER is used as the means to murder someone (by drowning), why don't we just BAN WATER?"
  
  
• "Ah, and air. The good ol' indispensable, breathable air! Without air, marijuana and some other narcotics can't grow! And arson fires can't burn! WHY DON'T WE ALSO BAN AIR WHILE WE'RE AT IT?"
  
  
• "Oh, and better ban doors next, because you can murder someone by wedging and slamming their head with a door against a doorway. Or you can immure someone trapped in a sealed room by sealing up a door with mortar and bricks!"
  

See, the point is, any object under the sun can be the means to commit a crime. Even dirt can suffocate someone to death but no use in banning dirt! Yes, even your son's GI Joe action-figure could be used to commit a crime. Use your imagination! ANYTHING can.
That's why it's no good to ban 3D printers just because it could be used as the means to commit a crime. It can be used for good too, you know!

Love it!

[Feign]

"Ah, and air. The good ol' indispensable, breathable air! Without air, marijuana and some other narcotics can't grow! And arson fires can't burn! WHY DON'T WE ALSO BAN AIR WHILE WE'RE AT IT?"

Oh, I'm sure there are plenty of people on both sides of the government that would love to require each person who wants to use air to go through the government's approval process beforehand. Subject to regular inspections to ensure that the air is not misused after the initial permitting process, and regular processing fees to ensure that all the beurocrats handling the paperwork get their appropriate six figure incomes.

Seperate permit required for exhaling, of course, since that generates carbon dioxide, classified as a world-ending pollutant.

[Geoff]

The whole argument is stupid, on both sides.

Don't read that baloney.

[3dkarma]

A more reasonable argument is to raise the point that many more people can afford to buy the parts for a zip-gun than a 3D-printer. 3D printing brings nothing new to home-built firearms - even the whole bit about not being able to scan for them.

[Teledog]

More media hype/witch hunting to scare the (dim) masses to allow the government to invoke even more laws/rules/regulations, and a new tax because of it.
ie: If the media published an "expose" that stated all people with say, blonde hair and green eyes that owned German Shepherds were the most violent people on earth, guess what would happen?
Yes, the media controls idiots.. look at who actually bothers voting for (another crooked) government..
/end rant

[Feign]

Well, consider the arguement in it's most basic form:
"Theres a NEW GUN that ANYONE COULD HAVE and it's INVISIBLE-ish! Vote for us to PROTECT YOU! DONT VOTE THE OTHER BECAUSE YOU SHOULD BE AFRAID!"
Utterly ludecrous from the beginning to the end, but let's look at the other side:
"Overreaction party will BAN MAKING THINGS and YOU WILL STARVE! Vote for us to help you NOT BE POOR! DONT VOTE THE OTHER BECAUSE YOU SHOULD BE AFRAID!"

In short politics... One side isn't going to ban a damn thing (though extremests on that side want to ban every damn thing everywhere forever), and the other isn't going to flood the streets with crazy people guns for crazy people (though extremests on that side want crazy people guns stuffed in every pocket of their clothings).

To sum up, not everyone in America is crazy... Not even everyone in American Politics is crazy... But dammit, everyone crazy in America is crazy about politics.

[atoff]

This is an actual thing people are discussing? Banning 3D printing? I agree with Geoff, stupid on both sides. The argument shouldn't even exist, it's idiotic.

[Feign]

The argument shouldn't even exist, it's idiotic.

Thirded, with emphasis. There are really a lot of arguments going on that are too stupid to exist. This is simply the one that everyone here is knowledgable enough about to recognise as such.

[MrSmiley666]

Magneto must be behind this.
He has no power over plastic weapons.

[awerby]

If rumored US gun bans give us anything to go on, this could be great for the 3D printing industry. Everyone will rush to stock up on 3D printers and their feedstocks, leading to a nation with more 3D printers than citizens...

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com