Diving into the data, I found that contrary to the prevalent narrative, RWE not only adopted #3DPF as an alternative to conventional firearms. Instead, I identified four (often overlapping) drivers for its adoption among extremist milieus. /6

The first factor is symbolic and ideological, where acquiring or making a 3D-printed firearm exceeds material benefits and is seen ideologically. I briefly discussed this in 2021 International Centre for Counter-Terrorism piece. 7/ www.icct.nl/publication/...

CTRL, HATE, PRINT: Terrorists and the Appeal of 3D-Printed Weapons

This summer two separate individuals with links to the extreme right were arrested or convicted in the United Kingdom (UK) on charges including offenses related to 3D-printed firearms. On 14 June, Dea...