How about 3d-printing something actually useful? Something which mankind actually really needs. Something which helps creating energy, making clean water, ...?
Cool, you can print guns. Next you can print bombs and all kinds of weapons.
How about using a new technology for something useful?
Sure you can make a statement by 3d printing a weapon. But with a little brain one should actually understand that there are a few other things which would be much more helpful. Just 'because you can' is fine. But this has been demonstrated already. Now it would be nice if people would demonstrate that they have a brain.
> Now it would be nice if people would demonstrate that they have a brain.
Thanks for contributing to the bigotry that all gun owners are pernicious idiots. How is this any better than any other form of prejudgement or "othering" based on any other political stance? Answer: it's not.
"Othering" based on a political stance is slow poison to a democratic government. What Ben Franklin said about hanging together is just as true today. If you have ever complained about a media outlet like Fox News engaging in this behavior, then guess what: you just did it yourself.
> What I said is this: it is brainless to produce even more guns, instead of investing brains into more important problems.
I agree with your sentiment, but what I said about the earlier quoted line is true and is also true about the above. You may disagree with someone about public policy, but that doesn't entitle you to call them "brainless." It's called "civil discourse" for a reason, and I know you don't have to look up the word "civil."
Have you built a 3D printer? I have. (And not a RepRap derivative either!) Have you ever developed a your own plans for a device or a sellable useful object from one? I have. If you have, then you should know that this is not a "brainless" activity. Even producing a one-shot disposable pistol on one is far from "brainless."
I also agree with your priority ordering: That was never my issue. (Reread the above, and reply to my actual position, please!)
The ability to defend yourself and to be sure of personal and community safety is every bit as important. Living in a free society means that individuals get to live by their own set of priorities.
No, we don't. Warren v. DC states that the police aren't obligated to save you from harm, even if they are able to.
Moreover, the police are very bad at preventing crime, and only about about 20% effective at actually solving crimes that have already occurred.
If you were of enough means, you might've said "I have bodyguards for that" and the statement may have gone without quarrel, but Police, by and large, play cleanup to crimes that have already happened.
This isn't meant to be a slight against the police, as I have great respect for the profession and the hardships of their duties, but even Superman isn't great at preventing crime, because it's a nigh-impossible task... and he's Superman.
I don't know where you live, but in my state only 12% of time the police get to the scene within five minutes for property crime, violent crime is about 30% (based on data from 2008, the most recent collected), that is more than enough time for a person to kill another or for someone to rob a house.
Cool, you can print guns. Next you can print bombs and all kinds of weapons.
How about using a new technology for something useful?
Sure you can make a statement by 3d printing a weapon. But with a little brain one should actually understand that there are a few other things which would be much more helpful. Just 'because you can' is fine. But this has been demonstrated already. Now it would be nice if people would demonstrate that they have a brain.