▲ Real guns confiscated after being made with a 3D printer
An 18-year-old Australian in Australia has been charged with violating gun laws by using a 3D printer to create a semi-automatic rifle.
On the 14th local time, local media such as CNN and Perth Now reported that an 18-year-old man living in Bayswater outside Perth made a semi-automatic rifle using a 3D printer.
Reportedly, the rifle has been confirmed to be functional as well as looks, and has been shown to be capable of firing 15 9mm bullets at a time.
In response, Western Australian police raided the man's home earlier this month and confiscated plastic guns, 3D printers, silencers and ammunition.
The suspect produced the gun weighing 4 kg over two days with a 3D printer at home, and it was confirmed that the material cost was only 40 Australian dollars (about 36,000 won).
Local police charged the suspect with charges of unlicensed manufacturing of firearms and ammunition and possession of prohibited weapons.
This is the first time a working, crafted firearm has been confiscated in Western Australia.
Detective Blair Smith said: "This toy-looking gun can cause serious harm to society. It is very worrisome that a weapon can be manufactured at home with a 3D printer and readily available materials."
Local police have announced plans to introduce a task force team to crack down on people who manufacture weapons at home.
Meanwhile, the Australian Commonwealth Firearms Act prohibits civilians from possessing automatic assault rifles.
Last year, the Western Australian government introduced amendments to the Firearms Act to ban the making of plastic guns with 3D printers, which includes up to 10 people planning to make plastic guns (with 3D printers) or securing a gun manufacturing method. It is punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year.
(Photo = 'Western Australia Police Force' Twitter)