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Sen. Leland Yee Proposes Regulating Guns From 3-D Printers

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A state senator is concerned about the possibility of someone creating a gun from a 3-D printer.

Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) is looking at how to regulate working guns made by 3-D printers.

The printers can create objects from a blueprint by layering material in slices, typically around a tenth of a millimeter in thickness. The printers start at around $1,000 and typically fall around $2,000.

Video showing a plastic gun being test-fired appeared online last weekend, prompting Yee's fears.

He's concerned that just about anyone with access to those cutting-edge printers can arm themselves.

"Terrorists can make these guns and do some horrible things to an individual and then walk away scott-free, and that is something that is really dangerous," said Yee.

He said while this new technology is impressive, it must be regulated when it comes to making guns. He says background checks, requiring serial numbers and even registering them could be part of new legislation that he says will protect the public.

Yee added, "This particular gun has no trace whatsoever."

Manuel Hernandez, of M & J Gun Trade in Sacramento, said any legislation putting limits on making 3-D printed guns only hurts law-abiding citizens.

"It's just another way to try and block gun owners," Hernandez said.

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