More than a decade after the 3D-printed gun emerged as a libertarian symbol and a gun control nightmare, police say one of those homemade plastic weapons has now been found in the hands of the world’s most notorious alleged killer. For the DIY gunsmith community who have He spent years honing it Printable Firearm Models In fact, the gun police claim Luigi Mangione used them United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot It is as recognizable as the alleged shooter himself – and shows just how practical and lethal these weapons are.
In the 24 hours since police posted a photo of what they said was Mangione’s gun following the 26-year-old’s arrest on Monday, an online community dedicated to 3D-printed firearms was quick to identify the suspected murder weapon as a specific model of printable firearm. “Ghost Gun” – A homemade weapon without a serial number, manufactured by assembling a mixture of commercial and hand-made parts. The pistol appears to be a Chiefwon V1, an adaptation of a popular, partially 3D-printed Glock design known as the FMDA 19.2 — an acronym that stands for the libertarian slogan “Free Men Don’t Ask.”
The FMDA 19.2, released in 2021, is a relatively old model by the standards of 3D-printed weapons, says a gunsmith with the first name John and the online handle Mr. Snow Makes. But he says it’s one of the most popular and well-tested ghost gun designs. The remixed Chiefwon V1 that police say Mangione was in possession of when he was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania. McDonald’s differs from the original FMDA 19.2 design only in that another amateur gunsmith, who uses the alias Chiefwon, added a different texture to the rifle’s grips.
“For someone who’s been making firearms like this for five years, it’s a bit of a strange choice. We’ve built nicer models,” says Mr. Snow Mix, who hosts an annual gun-shooting competition. But he adds, “This is one of the oldest models.” “The 3D printed Glock has been extensively tested and has succeeded in creating a reliably effective firearm.”
Authorities in New York charged Mangione on Monday with Thompson’s Dec. 4 murder, along with weapons charges and other crimes alleged in Pennsylvania. A Handwritten statement Upon his arrest, police say they found Mangione deploring the practices of United Healthcare and the U.S. health insurance industry more broadly. Bullet casings discovered at the scene of the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan were reportedly scrawled with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “isolate” — likely criticism of health care industry practices.
The fact that even a relatively old model of a 3D-printed firearm allegedly allowed Mangione to repeatedly shoot Thompson on a Manhattan street — certainly the most famous shooting ever with a ghost gun or 3D-printed weapon — shows just how far DIY weapons have come. Technology came, says Cody Wilson, founder of the gun rights advocacy group. Unlike older 3D-printed weapon models, the FDMA 19.2 can be fired hundreds or even thousands of times without its plastic components breaking.