MOSCOW, October 25 (RIA Novosti) – A Japanese man, who designed and printed 3D guns, became the first person to receive a prison sentence, The Telegraph said on Saturday.
28-year old Yoshitomo Imura assembled five plastic guns, two of which could fire real bullets, from 3D printed parts. Imura was arrested in May, after he posted a video of himself shooting a plastic gun on YouTube, Discovery News said.
“The criminal responsibility of this act is serious”, said the Yokohama District Court judge Koji Inaba, as quoted by Discovery News. The judge was worried it could encourage others to follow Imura’s footsteps and start printing guns out of plastic.
In a video posted online, Imura showed how to assemble a handgun from various plastic 3D printed pieces, metal pins, screws and rubber bands. Imura had also released his design secrets on YouTube, which Judge Koji described as “vicious”, Japan News said.
Imura had purchased the 3D printer online, paying about $630.
