December 5, 2013: The Undetectable Firearms Act expires on December 10. With just 5 days to go, a bill to renew the law for 10 years passed the House of Representatives. Notably, the bill which passed the House did not include any expansion of the existing laws which had been proposed, such as requiring at least one metal component in all firearms. The bill is now headed to the Senate, which does not return from its Thanksgiving recess until December 9, leaving it less than 24 hours to pass the renewal legislation. If the Senate is able to pass the bill, it would address concerns raised earlier this year when a Texas college student successfully used a 3D printer to produce a working handgun made almost entirely out of plastic. The biggest concern, is that once the Act expires, 3D printer-made firearms “would be completely legal” according to Bill Ryan, senior attorney in the BATFE’s office of general counsel. Meanwhile, the City of Philadelphia is not waiting on Federal lawmakers, and has already passed legislation prohibiting the use of the 3D printing technology to create any firearm or firearm component.
According to CNN and ORC International, the support for stricter gun laws which surged following last years’ tragedies is declining. A CNN survey completed in January of this year reflected that roughly 55% of Americans supported stricter gun laws, while 44% of Americans opposed them. In April, another CNN survey reported that the percentage of Americans supporting stricter gun laws had fallen to 53%. Now, CNN/ORC International report that the tables have turned, with 50% of Americans opposing stricter gun laws and only 49% supporting them. A copy of the survey questions, results and history is available here.
