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submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/world@lemmy.world

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — On a visit to New Zealand, FBI Director Kash Patel gave the country’s police and spy bosses gifts of inoperable pistols that were illegal to possess under local gun laws and had to be destroyed, New Zealand law enforcement agencies told The Associated Press.

The plastic 3D-printed replica pistols formed part of display stands Patel presented to at least four senior New Zealand security officials in July. Patel, the most senior Trump administration official to visit the country so far, was in Wellington to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand.

Pistols are tightly restricted weapons under New Zealand law and possessing one requires an additional permit beyond a regular gun license. Law enforcement agencies didn’t specify whether the officials who met with Patel held such permits, but they couldn’t have legally kept the gifts if they didn’t.

It wasn’t clear what permissions Patel had sought to bring the weapons into the country. A spokesperson for Patel told the AP Tuesday that the FBI would not comment.

US FBI Director Kash Patel visits New Zealand, immediately provides local officials with 3d printed, potentially operable firearms...

... which is a crime, that could carry up to a 3 year prison/jail sentence in NZ...

... and would also potentially be somewhere between a misdemeanor and a felony depending on where you are in the US, as 3d printed firearms are generally without serial numbers and are thus 'ghost guns', which are often illegal if unregistered, if not outright banned, though this differs from state to state and city to city.

(Oh also, I guess he is so concerned about properly investigating the death of Charlie Kirk that he is uh, personally looking for leads in New Zealand, or something.)

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[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 73 points 1 week ago

3d printed firearms are generally without serial numbers and are thus ‘ghost guns’, which are illegal

This is not correct. Under federal law, building them for yourself is legal. However, selling them without a serial number is illegal. Manufacturing them without having a license is even more illegal.

The law in the various states may be more restrictive.

[-] seathru@lemmy.sdf.org 28 points 1 week ago

However, selling them without a serial number is illegal.

That's not correct either . Federally it is legal to sell a self built firearm with no serial number as long as you did not originally build it with the intention of selling.

[-] chiocciola@lemmy.cafe 26 points 1 week ago

Intention

So if I make 100 of them and then lick each one of them, and then decide they don’t taste good… Selling them is OK right?

[-] whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 27 points 1 week ago

They're gonna pull our licker license

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

As stupid as that sounds, something a little less stupid may, may hold up as a defense in court, depending on where you are, and if you have a couple million dollars to blow on legal fees and/or can get some kind of gun rights advocacy oriented legal firm type thing to work for you.

[-] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 week ago

I have to say it though; there are many easier ways of making money.

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 week ago

Yeah, just 3d print ATM skimmers!

for legal reasons this a joke

[-] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I’m in the clear because at no point in time did I intend to illegally make money with whatever it is you’re talking about

[-] chiocciola@lemmy.cafe 5 points 1 week ago

So, giving them away is cool then right?

[-] seathru@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I would ask your lawyer before investing in the infrastructure.

Many of the US' gun laws come down to "intent". Almost like they were written from the start to be selectively enforced.

[-] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

What's the difference between "building" and "manufacturing?"

[-] Voyajer@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

Intent to sell

[-] boydster@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

I am also unlearned in these ways. I wonder if the difference is the scale of the operation as far as the law is concerned?

[-] J52@piefed.social 9 points 1 week ago

From the country that brought you 'dumb and dumber', what did we expect.

[-] Throbbing_banjo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

US gun laws are incredible. Short Barreled Rifles are illegal. So they just make them with "pistol braces" instead, and sell them as "pistols." AR-15 with a 10.5" barrel? Pistol.

Under US law, this is a perfectly legal pistol

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yep, and then if you put a 'not a pistol brace but an actual buttstock' on one of those things without registering it as an SBR... probably you are now a felon, maybe?

???

What is it for a rifle, 16 inch min barrel, 26 inch from toe to tip min length?

You would think this would spur bullpup adoption / creation around those exact specs... and I guess the PSA Wolverine, Kel Tech RDB and Springfield Hellion are that, though ... the general gun community seems quite hesitant toward and skeptical of anything that doesn't match their already learned standard AR 15 muscle memory.

Also that. Put a rifle stock on that gun for an instant felony.

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 week ago

Sorry I edited more into my comment as you made yours, but yeah, US gun law is uh... something.

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[-] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

What's the difference between building and manufacturing?

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 week ago
[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Short version:

Ok, the actual legal status of this is quite complicated, I will ammend that section with more qualifiers.

Long version:

I'll give you that at the Federal area, right now, this is not illegal, to make and possess your own unregistered, unserialized firearm... but if you go by the proportion of people that live in states or cities that have just outright made possession of a ghost gun a crime in and of itself...

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/ghost-gun-legality-by-state

Yeah thats uh... at least ~126 million US residents where unregistered ghost guns are specifically some kind of illegal at the State level, and thats likely an undercount given that there are likely a lot of larger cities / counties that have their own restrictions, but are within States that don't have them at that level...

So yeah, it is probably explicitly illegal by local/state law for about half the US by population to self mfg and/or possess a 3d printed gun with no serials / registration

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago

Yeah, I live in one of those states. But even here, it's legal to make with no serial number, you just have to register the creation.

Or at least that's what the law was. I know it changed a few years ago, I haven't bothered keeping up since it doesn't affect me.

[-] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 3 points 1 week ago

Genuinely didn’t know New Zealand is a federal system.

[-] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

It's not, they just don't realise not everywhere is the US.

NZ doesn't have states.

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[-] seathru@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I think they are responding to the OP's comment:

and would also potentially be somewhere between a misdemeanor and a felony depending on where you are in the US, as 3d printed firearms are generally without serial numbers and are thus 'ghost guns', which are often illegal if unregistered, if not outright banned, though this differs from state to state and city to city.

~~Which has nothing to do with NZ.~~

Edit: that last bit sounded catty; not my intention.

[-] Jarix@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago
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[-] grue@lemmy.world 34 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Pistols are tightly restricted weapons under New Zealand law and possessing one requires an additional permit beyond a regular gun license.

Restricting pistols (i.e. the type of firearm most useful for crime and least useful for hunting or militia defense) more than long guns makes a ton of sense, and it's a shame the US doesn't do it that way too.

[-] ToastedRavioli@midwest.social 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The US does have more restrictions on handguns than long guns in the same way. Youll notice in NZ you cant have a gun in general without a license, which obviously doesnt exist in the US. That said, federal law restricts ownership of handguns more than on long guns. 18 year olds can buy long guns and ammo for them, but cannot buy handguns nor handgun ammo. One has to be 21 or older to buy a handgun. Although legally an 18 year old can own a handgun if they are given it as a gift. But they still cant buy ammo for it themselves

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[-] Ghyste@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 week ago

Because he's a fucking moron.

[-] krigo666@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

This is a total dark pattern. The objective is to vilify 3D printing, and have the governments regulate sales of printing equipements, etc.

[-] quackerjo@lemmy.wtf 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I appreciate your cynicism, but I think you're vastly overestimating Kash Money's capacity for subterfuge.

[-] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 week ago

His capacity for looking inordinately startled, however, is off the hook.

[-] quackerjo@lemmy.wtf 4 points 1 week ago

Yeah, that shit slaps.

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Kash Patel attempting to portray 'innocuous, innocent':

Why do you think I'm a cop, haha! No, I'm down with the chill bro, hip with the bip!

.

..

...

wherestheadreochromefarmiknowyourehidingitinsideofyourpizzadungeonyoubastard

[-] Maeve@kbin.earth 10 points 1 week ago

That one of several places where a bunch of techbroligarchs are buying up land and building bunkers? 🤔

[-] anton2492@lemmy.nz 9 points 1 week ago

... in Wellington to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand.

A what now? Five Eyes not enough? Confused. Recalling rumours of CCP allegedly installing their own law enforcement agents locally.

[-] Killer57@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

It's the four eyes now, we kicked the United States out unofficially. Seriously, we haven't been sharing information with the United States since before Ukraine did that big drone attack.

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[-] TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 week ago

The director of the FBI gives gifts to foreign officials... Which are 3D printed? No money for real gifts? xD

[-] HubertManne@piefed.social 7 points 1 week ago

yo losers your loser laws are not for winners like me.

[-] wewbull@feddit.uk 7 points 1 week ago

...and so the arrested him on the spot. Right?

[-] redwattlebird@lemmings.world 6 points 1 week ago

Doesn't the FBI look into issues within USA borders? And doesn't the CIA look into issues outside these borders? I'm confused as to why an FBI office needs to be in Wellington, especially since NZ is a sovereign country. Unless somehow the NZ government is somehow now a state of the US.

[-] porous_grey_matter@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 week ago

Unless somehow the NZ government is somehow now a state of the US

As a new zealander it sure fuckin feels like that sometimes

[-] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Why give up the opportunity to have a fully paid vacation in 5 stars hotels in another continent during a government shutdown?

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Uhm... yes. Yeah.

I am also kind of confused by this.

The FBI has like... sub offices, attachés to consulates/embassies... but uh... thats for coordinating with local law enforcement and I guess handling US expats.

Yeah I don't know what the fuck Patel is doing here, unless he is kind of just publically admitting that all those other FBI sub offices and attachés just routinely handle Five Eyes / Nine Eyes / However many fucking Eyes type shit.

Which is, I mean, yeah, duh, but also, you're not supposed to just say that outloud, Patel.

You're supposed to be investigating the globalist deep state panopticon world controllers, not fucking building a new branch office for them...

Oh my god his brain must be the size of a walnut, he isn't even good at what he is trying to be good at, holy shit.

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[-] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

Send that Worm-tongue back to from where he came, good people of New Zealand.

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 week ago

Better yet, into the fires of Mt. Doom.

[-] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

So you're saying that's not where he's from originally?

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this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2025
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