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In an era where technology has blurred the lines between the impossible and the possible, the creation of firearms at home is no longer a far-fetched concept. Today’s sentencing of a 20-year-old neo-Nazi in the UK is a grim reminder of the terrifying reality that 3D-printed firearms, like the FGC-9, have become.

 

 

Jack Robinson, who was found to be at an "advanced stage" of building his own semi-automatic rifle, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison. His case highlights the growing concern about the accessibility of such deadly weapons, which are crafted with simple, everyday materials and 3D printers.

 

 

When Robinson was arrested at 18, police uncovered more than just his half-completed gun. His home in Portsmouth housed a disturbing collection of military-style gear, stab vests, and memorabilia from Nazi Germany. More troubling, however, were the 500 documents Robinson had downloaded, which contained instructions for explosives, weapons, and 3D-printed guns, as well as a vast array of white supremacist propaganda.

 

 

His online activity, operating under usernames such as “kill all Jews,” revealed the depth of his dangerous ideology. As prosecutor Naomi Parsons stated, it was purely "fortuitous that police found the gun before it had been completed and assembled.”

 

The rise of 3D-printed firearms, particularly the FGC-9, has posed new challenges for law enforcement in the UK and globally. Standing for "F--- Gun Control" and using 9mm ammunition, the FGC-9 can be entirely constructed at home using unregulated parts and everyday materials. This design has made the gun a favorite among criminals and extremists alike.

 

 

The FGC-9, which first appeared in 2020, is unlike earlier homemade guns because it is reliable, easy to produce, and doesn't require commercially manufactured components like barrels. As a result, it has rapidly spread across continents, finding its way into the hands of terrorists, insurgents, and organized criminals.

 

 

The FGC-9's creator, known by the pseudonym JStark, crafted the weapon not only for practical use but also as a symbol of rebellion against gun control laws. His aim was to inspire people worldwide to make weapons at home, defying what he called “tyrannical” governments. JStark's words, “We together can defeat for good the infringement that is taking place on our natural-born right to bear arms,” reflect the ideological motivation behind the weapon. While the FGC-9 has gained a following in Europe, its influence is being felt in Britain, where authorities now prosecute individuals for simply possessing its instruction manual.

 

Robinson’s case is one of more than a dozen in the UK over the past four years involving individuals either attempting to build the FGC-9 or possessing its manual. While some aspired to commit mass shootings, others saw the weapon as a business opportunity, planning to sell it to gangs. The FGC-9 has also become particularly popular among far-right extremists. In Robinson’s trial, the judge ruled that he was a dangerous offender, with his interest in firearms tied to his extremist ideology. “I find you were motivated by terrorism,” said Mrs Justice McGowan, who cited the material found in Robinson’s possession that glorified the killing of Jews.

 

The FGC-9 is not just a weapon for neo-Nazis or the far-right, however. Recent cases have shown that jihadists, too, have begun to take an interest in the gun. In October, a Londoner named Abdiwahid Abdulkadir Mohamed was convicted of six terror offenses for possessing the FGC-9 manual and other instructions for homemade weapons. This growing, cross-ideological appeal of the FGC-9 is deeply troubling for authorities around the world.

 

Though the number of 3D-printed firearms seized in the UK remains relatively low, the National Crime Agency has warned of the increasing threat posed by the technology. The agency is working with partners to suppress the availability of such weapons, but the detailed manuals and the ease of access to 3D printers make the fight against homemade firearms a daunting task.

 

As Dr. Rajan Basra, a researcher who has studied the FGC-9, puts it, “People can get involved in making the gun because they’re just looking to experiment. But with time, they become more familiar with the ideology behind the FGC-9 and may come to adopt that worldview.”

 

The case of Jack Robinson, like others before it, sheds light on the alarming accessibility and ideological underpinnings of the FGC-9. As technology continues to advance, the potential for homemade, high-powered firearms to disrupt societies grows. What once seemed like science fiction is now a dark, global reality.

 

Based on a report from the Daily Telegraph 2024-10-17