3D-printed guns a concern to agencies worldwide: Goodale

While technology can make the world a better place to live, governments and police across the world could be facing a new challenge because of it.

Plans were set to go online and become downloadable for a 3D-printed gun on Wednesday but a U.S. judge has put a temporary restraining order stopping their release.

The guns have been a topic of debate since 2013 when a Texas-based company began publishing the blueprints.

Ralph Goodale, federal minister of public safety, said this sort of technology is something of concern for law enforcement and governments all around the world.

“From local police forces to the RCMP to counterparts in the United States to INTERPOL, they are all seized of this question about what if you could, quite literally, photocopy a weapon and it would be usable to cause harm to other people,” Goodale said.

Public Safety Canada said people who print the gun would be breaking the law surrounding unauthorized firearms.

According to the Criminal Code, anyone who makes weapons or ammo knowing they aren’t authorized to do so could face up to 10 years in prison.

Goodale also said the government of Canada is looking at a variety of recommendations surrounding the control of handguns and other firearms in the country.

“What we’ve put forward so far is Bill C-71 and that improves background checks and there seems to be broad public support for that.”

He said Ottawa is also improving the licence verification and record keeping process. He added many police chiefs believe more and more guns are being stolen and enter into the illegal market.

Goodale said Quebec has a model for gun control which involves health care professionals taking a proactive step if they are aware of a person having a condition which could make them a danger to themselves or others and to report it to the authorities.

He said they will have a discussion with the other provinces of if they feel that model is one they would want to follow.