Banning all Muslims vs. Banning all guns: an examination

[Lizzie Poppet]

28. There are two problems with any ban (weapon -or- magazine):

Those two problems are: extant supply and 3D printing.

Tens of millions of "assault weapons" already in distribution mean that there will be a supply of these available for the foreseeable future. Firearms are very durable goods (they have to be to withstand the forces involved) and can last for generations. The experience of those states and other jurisdictions that have banned these weapons clearly demonstrates that compliance with any ban will be very low.

Moreover, we are on the verge of 3D printing becoming commonplace. There are already plans for a number of weapons readily available online. Materials advances aren't far from making completely 3D printed guns quite workable (and some of the trickier parts, like barrels, could be sourced from the massive supply of extant weapons). Magazines would be simple.

It may be the case that banning as a methodology has become obsolete for relatively simple items like these. If so, other approaches have to take center stage.