Two Western Australian males have been charged after police seized a number of 3D-printed weapons throughout a four-month operation.
A 59-year-old and a 38-year-old have been charged with six offences between them, together with manufacturing and promoting weapons.
Several properties had been raided throughout the state together with houses in Wundowie, High Wycomeb and Morangup.
In one raid at a property on Louisa Circle in Morangup, an hour north-east of Perth, police allegedly discovered 4 3D-printed weapons, a 3D printer and digital gadgets with schematics, and a number of other 3D-printed gun elements.
The gun bust frightened WA Police.
“Our concern is they fall into the wrong hands, they do fire live rounds and they are a risk,” Deputy Commissioner Kylie Whiteley mentioned.
“The issue for us now [is] that these can be made in backyards and homes, and the concern for us is we’re seeing an emerging trend where that’s increasing.”
The 59-year-old Marangup man was charged with manufacturing a gun and possessing gun know-how and not using a licence, together with different weapons offences.
The youthful man, from Gosnells in Perth’s south-east, was charged with promoting a firearm and not using a licence.
In June final 12 months, an 18-year-old was arrested and charged with an identical string of offences, together with printing a working semi-automatic rifle.
3D printing knowledgeable Elliot Theunissen, proprietor of E-Jet 3D Printing, mentioned many manufacturing blueprints had been obtainable on-line.
”We should crack down more on removing those weapons off the internet then you can cut back on people both printing and traditionally manufacturing these things,” he mentioned.
The 59-year-old is due in Northam Magistrates Court on September 11 and the 38-year-old will face Midland Magistrates Court on October 20.
Source: www.9news.com.au
