Technology

Aren't they already doing that due to their hysteria over "ghost" guns?

They can try, but the parts that make up a printer are used in tons of other applications. It isn't hard to build one from scratch.

And just like age verification it's useless because one can build a 3d printer out of an old VCR and a hot glue gun.

3D printers are even less useful here though. The rocket bit can be replaced with a cardboard tube and some balsa fins. The important parts are the active control and circuitry.

But I guess logic doesn't really enter into the conversation anyway.

It's not a MANPAD really.

The sensor package has no IR sensor (or radar unit) and no way to proximity fuse.

It has GPS, accelerometer and barometric pressure. It's more like a rocket powered artillery shell than an anti-air weapon.

Or, given the lack of payload, it's more like a high speed burrito delivery device.

I synthesize energetics. I can make a primary explosive that is stable enough for cap usage with a solo cup. I can synthesize secondaries like RDX above (one of the more complicated common ones) in short order with a basic chemistry set and the internet to order basic reagents. None are controlled substances.

It is trivially easy to make effective shapes charges and energetics at home.

Synthesis is federally legal in the US so long as you do not assemble into a device or transport. You can do both with an SOT as an FFL.

If I wanted to, I could make a shaped charge that was point imitated and base detonated for the above projectile and it would punch through about 1.5 feet of homogeneously rolled steel.

The limit to threat is not the access to explosives, as the chemistry and processes are published freely online as easy to replicate. The drone parts and control surface actuation is by far harder and I say this as someone who has a professional background in computer science and software engineering.

There's an anecdote that comes up in software about people working on missile software not caring about memory leaks because it's going to explode anyway before that becomes an issue.

Who cares about bugs in your software if it's a hobby project that's going to blow up anyway.

Also, including Claude doesn't inherently mean vibe coded, it can be for writing tests, small components, or debugging.

Well, it is supposed to go boom

You'll get my manpad from my cold wet crotch!

Home offence is the best defense.

No you see, if arms companies own all the rights regarding distribution of 3D printer tech then it is a constitutional right to produce guns with printers, if not then it is terrorism.

They’ll probably be cool with it if you have to subscribe to owning things

Let's just remember the great lessons of history: Never cavalry charge a formed infantry, if the war involves Vietnam in ANY way, join the Vietnamese side, and halberds are the pinnacle of melee weapons.