The genie will soon be out of the bottle.
BTW, I'm ok with it, even if the NYT apparently isn't. Given that it's already (generally) legal for a non-felon to create his own firearm for personal use with machine tools, this technology will merely make something already legal easier.
Of course, if a felon is prohibited from owning a gun, it should be illegal for him to make one with a 3-D printer, just as it is already illegal for him to buy one from his cousin. But we shouldn't limit the rights of the innocent people in the process of enforcing any legitimate laws.
Here is the current law:
Q: Does the GCA prohibit anyone from making a handgun, shotgun or rifle?
A: With certain exceptions a firearm may be made by a non-licensee provided it is not for sale and the maker is not prohibited from possessing firearms. However, a person is prohibited from assembling a non-sporting semi-automatic rifle or non-sporting shotgun from imported parts. In addition, the making of an NFA firearm requires a tax payment and approval by ATF. An application to make a machine gun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing that the firearm is being made for a Federal or State agency.
