FBI director Kash Patel under scrutiny for gifting illegal 3D-printed guns to New Zealand officials

FBI Director Kash Patel is under fire for giving senior New Zealand officials 3D-printed pistols that don't work but are against the law during a diplomatic visit earlier this year. Police and intelligence agencies have confirmed the incident, which has raised questions about gun laws in a country known for having strict rules.

During his trip to Wellington on July 31, Patel showed off the fake guns. This was the first time the FBI had a separate office in New Zealand. Before the police stepped in to make sure that firearms laws were followed, the items were given to some of the country's top security officials, as per a report by Newsweek.

ALSO READ: Diddy sentencing for racketeering and trafficking: Date, time and what punishment could the rapper face

Who got the guns made with 3D printing?

According to their agencies, Patel gave the plastic guns to Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, NZSIS director-general Andrew Hampton, and GCSB director-general Andrew Clark. A representative from the New Zealand Intelligence Community said the items were part of a "challenge coin display stand."

ALSO READ: Amazon Prime settlement payouts: Find out if you are eligible for a refund

Why are they against the law in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, it is against the law to have guns that don't work but can be changed to work. If you want to own a pistol, you need more than just a regular gun license. The law says that you could go to jail for up to three years or pay a fine of 4,000 New Zealand dollars (about $2,300), as per a report by NBC News.

Commissioner Chambers said he asked for help right away after getting the item. He said, “While inoperable in the form they were gifted, a subsequent analysis by the Firearms Safety Authority and Police Armory determined that modifications could have made them operable.” “To ensure compliance with firearms laws, I instructed Police to retain and destroy them,” he added.

What did the officials do?

The police also got the gifts from both Hampton and Clark. Neither their agencies nor the New Zealand Police said for sure if the people who got the guns had the right licenses. The country's zero-tolerance policy for having guns without permission is shown by the choice to destroy the items.

ALSO READ: Mystery meeting of hundreds of generals at US Department of War - place, time, Trump speech and all details

What else is going on in the world that relates to this issue?

Patel is having a hard time right now because people have been criticizing him for his comments about the January 6 investigation and the investigation into the murder of Charlie Kirk. There is no indication that Patel himself could be charged, but the situation has made his leadership more difficult as the controversy grows.

FAQs

Who did Kash Patel give the fake guns to?
Richard Chambers is the Commissioner of Police in New Zealand, and Andrew Hampton and Andrew Clark are the heads of intelligence.

What happened to the nice guns?
Authorities confirmed that they were illegal and told the people who had them to keep them and destroy them.