this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2025
460 points (99.1% liked)

World News

50162 readers
2979 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

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.)

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 76 points 4 days ago (15 children)

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 29 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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 4 days ago (3 children)

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 4 days ago (1 children)

They're gonna pull our licker license

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

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 4 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, just 3d print ATM skimmers!

for legal reasons this a joke

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] chiocciola@lemmy.cafe 5 points 4 days ago

So, giving them away is cool then right?

[–] seathru@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days 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 4 days ago (2 children)

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

[–] Voyajer@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago

Intent to sell

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] J52@piefed.social 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] Throbbing_banjo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

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 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (12 children)

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.

load more comments (12 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (12 replies)
[–] grue@lemmy.world 34 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

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.

[–] floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 days ago

Also a bit harder to stuff a rifle in your pants

[–] ToastedRavioli@midwest.social 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days 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

[–] viking@infosec.pub 37 points 4 days ago

So on the next visit, arrest him for smuggling illegal contraband. And issue an international arrest warrant for good measure.

[–] redwattlebird@lemmings.world 7 points 3 days ago (4 children)

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 2 days 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 2 days 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 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

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.

[–] Cassanderer@thelemmy.club 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Part of the reason for being of the five eyes countries is getting around our laws forbidding intelligence agencies from Spying on their own citizens. They have their ally do it and then share it with them.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago

Yep, exactly.

Its basically a way of outsourcing domestic spying via a shell game.

[–] apftwb@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The FBI is who you call when you want to investigate (and prosecute) international gangs/drug cartels (which is why he was there in the first place)

The CIA is who you call when you want a country's leader shot with a shard of frozen pufferfish poison.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I mean, the CIA has frequently, with documentation, illegally operated on US soil... often by facilitating international gangs and drug cartels...

But yes, the ice gun with puffer fish poison is also a thing too lol.

Anyway uh, the article says:

News of Patel’s visit caused ripples in New Zealand at the time because the opening of the new FBI office in Wellington wasn’t divulged to news outlets or the public until it had already happened. An FBI statement in July said the move aligned New Zealand with FBI missions in other Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations, which also include the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The office would provide a local mission for FBI staff who have operated with oversight from Canberra, Australia, since 2017, the statement said.

Where are you getting that Patel was there for intl. drug gang investigation?

[–] apftwb@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Where are you getting that Patel was there for intl. drug gang investigation

https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/01/fbi-opens-first-office-in-new-zealand-sparking-backlash-in-china

New Zealand ministers who met Patel, the highest-ranking Trump administration official to visit New Zealand, quietly dismissed his claims.

A government statement on Thursday emphasised joint efforts against crimes such as online child exploitation and drug smuggling, with no mention of China.

"When we were talking, we never raised that issue," Foreign Minister Winston said Thursday.

Patel said what he said because he is a fucking moron. If Patel lied, he is a moron for creating diplomatic problems for an ally. if Patel didn't lie, he just brought a whole lot of unnecessary attention to a spy base in NZ.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago

Ah, ok, I'd only seen the AP article.

Welp.

Yeah, yep, Patel is indeed a gigantic fucking bug eyed idiot, that tracks.

[–] redwattlebird@lemmings.world 2 points 3 days ago

I'm almost inclined to believe that he just wants an excuse to holiday in NZ. Because if it's for spying... Good grief. Have they bungled it up badly.

...I mean, OPSEC IS CLEAN!

[–] Cassanderer@thelemmy.club 1 points 2 days ago

The fbi does help other countries with investigations by request.

[–] Ghyste@sh.itjust.works 20 points 4 days ago

Because he's a fucking moron.

[–] anton2492@lemmy.nz 9 points 3 days ago (2 children)

... 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 3 days 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.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 days ago

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

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 7 points 3 days ago

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

[–] krigo666@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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 17 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

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

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days 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 9 points 4 days ago

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

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 7 points 4 days ago

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

[–] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I swear to fuck they're using some kind of unhinged sentence generator to make all the headlines these days

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] porous_grey_matter@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago

unhinged sentence generator

AI

theyre_the_same_picture.jpg

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Better yet, into the fires of Mt. Doom.

[–] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›