A 19-year-old Scottish teenager, James Maris, used a 3D printer he received as a gift to attempt to manufacture a semi-automatic firearm. He avoided prison but was sentenced to community service and strict supervision.
An Attempted Weapon Manufacture Intercepted
Police raided Maris’s family home in Rannoch, Scotland, after receiving intelligence about a suspicious order of firearm parts. During the search, officers discovered components for an FGC9, a 3D-printed rifle, as well as digital files related to its construction.
A Lenient Judgment Despite the Seriousness of the Case
Found guilty of attempting to manufacture a firearm and illegally possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition, Maris faced a minimum three-year prison sentence. However, Judge Lady Hood ruled that exceptional circumstances justified an alternative punishment. He was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work, three years of probation, a one-year nighttime curfew, and restrictions on his electronic devices.
A Passionate Teenager with No Criminal Intent
Maris stated that he was building the gun out of a fascination with firearm engineering, not to cause harm. A handwritten letter found in his room confirmed he had no malicious intentions. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD, he expressed deep remorse. However, the prosecution emphasized that the manufacturing of 3D-printed weapons poses a serious threat and that such offenses will be prosecuted rigorously.
Picture by Freepik generated with Midjourney.
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