SA Police push for changes to gun laws to help crack down on 3D printed firearms

Police are pushing for law changes to help crack down on untraceable 3D printed guns being used in an escalating youth gang war.

Police are pushing for law changes to help crack down on 3D printed guns amid an escalating challenge to track the untraceable guns being manufactured by African youth gangs.

In an effort to combat the increasing number of 3D printed guns being manufactured, police are calling for amendments to the Firearms Act that would make it illegal to possess the blueprints used to create the weapons.

Under current SA law, it is illegal to manufacture 3D printed guns without a licence but not illegal to be in possession of the designs used to create the weapons.

The blueprints, which can be downloaded on the internet, are the base designs which guide a 3D printer to create the illegal guns.

Assistant Commissioner Narelle Kameniar said the law change was the first step in helping police crack down on the weapons.

Assistant Commissioner Narelle Kameniar said Picture: Dean Martin

Operation Meld detectives in May seized a 3D printed gun and 3D printing equipment. Picture: Supplied

“The proposed legislation to prohibit possessing 3D firearms blueprints will provide police an additional tool to assist in preventing people from illegally manufacturing firearms and enable us to put them before the courts and suspend licences,” Ms Kameniar said.

It comes as The Advertiser can reveal members of warring African youth gangs are 3D printing their own untraceable guns.

Operation Meld detectives in May seized a 3D printed gun and 3D printing equipment from the home of a teenage member of one of Adelaide’s two major African youth gangs KBS.

Ms Kameniar, who oversees SA Police’s Firearms Branch, said while the number of 3D printed guns being seized across SA was still relatively small, police had seen a concerning increase in the weapons.

“Moving forward, given the readily accessible technology, that is a concern,” she said.

“The technology is more accessible to people.

“The other thing is the actual safety of the firearm itself and what that could mean to a person handling such a firearm and the injuries they could cause themselves or somebody else.”

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said the state government was “open to any initiative that is shown to improve community safety”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

SA Police in July closed consultation on the proposed law changes and is now reviewing submissions.

“Because of the composition of 3D firearms it presents challenges in terms of security which concerns police,” Ms Kameniar said.

Owning the blueprints has been outlawed in New South Wales, while Tasmania is following suit, with changes to firearms legislation in the process of being introduced.

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said the state government was “open to any initiative that is shown to improve community safety”.

“I will continue to work closely with SAPOL to ensure they can continue to respond to potential threats posed by new and emerging technologies.”