Day 6

Episode 131: Crack Allegations: Is Ford Teflon?, Surviving Oklahoma Tornado, Nosodes aka Vaccine Alternatives and more

2013-05-25T01:30:00Z

*THE "PLAY LATEST AUDIO BUTTON" AT THE TOP OF THE WEB PAGE IS CURRENTLY NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FIND THE LATEST EPISODE HERE*

Will Rob Ford Survive Crack Allegations | Tornado's Deadly Destruction | Senate Abolition Pro and Con | Nosodes and Public Health | Scripps' Rule Changes | Xbox One and Your Dad

]]> He finally spoke. And he said the allegations are not true.

Since allegations of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's drug use exploded nine days ago, Ford has refused questions and made no statement beyond initial remarks that some found vague.

There were developments. The mayor's allies pressed him to address the situation, while his brother backed his decision to remain unavailable. Meanwhile, the story of an alleged cracked out mayor went international, popping up in late-night TV monologues.

On Thursday, to the astonishment of reporters waiting for a statement, Ford fired his chief of staff, and by week's end, even Ford's most ardent supporters were urging him to get help. He remained silent.

Then late Friday afternoon Rob Ford faced the media and made this statement.

John Tory, business leader, Conservative, radio-show host and city hall watcher knows Rob Ford and witnessed his unlikely rise to power. We'll ask him if he thinks Ford is home free.

Oklahoma's Terror

The tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma on Monday afternoon killed 24 people, two of them infants. The funnel grew in power as it traveled across 27 km destroying homes, schools and entire neighbourhoods.

When it peaked, the tornado had revved itself into the highest category of these killer storms, an EF-5.

Abby Wendle and Sarah Geis of This Land Press, visited Moore the day after the killer tornado and talked to survivors about the worst of the four tornadoes that hit the are since 1999.

No Go on Nosodes

Nosodes are homeopathic products which some people use as alternatives to vaccines. Over 100 nosodes have been approved for use by Health Canada.

Now some physicians think nosodes might be playing a role in reducing the country's herd immunity and want Health Canada to revoke their approval.

When we talked to people from the homeopathic industry for this story, they denied nosodes are considered a vaccine alternative. But you can see how they're marketed that way here and here.

Dr. Lloyd Oppel is the Chair of the British Columbia Medical Association Council on Health Promotion. He published an article in this month's BC Medical Journal, accusing Health Canada of 'diluting its standards' by approving nosodes.

We'll talk to him and then tell you about the problems we had getting a guest from the opposing side.

Senate Snag

A scandal that started over the expense claims of Harper appointed Senators has spread to the Prime Minister's Office and challenges the managerial skills of the Prime Minister himself. Some say it's the darkest hour for Stephen Harper's government.

There's irony that the whole mess began in the institution the Reform Party wanted abolished. The Canadian Senate has long been an irritant to those who find it undemocratic, overly expensive, or not representative. Now the NDP has taken up the cause of abolition.

In spite of everything, the institution has its defenders. We'll hear from one of them and from another who wants the Red Chamber red-lined.

Scripps' Switcheroo

The Scripps Spelling Bee pulled a fast one this year and changed the rules introducing vocabulary to the competition. It rattled some of the young contestants but they're game. After all, they call themselves word nerds.

11-year old Vanya Shivishankar is off to her 3rd Scripps event next week, last year she tied for tenth place. She tells us how she prepared for the change and we talk to Emily Stagg, who was featured in the documentary Spellbound when she was a kid. She called for Scripps to incorporate vocab back in 2006.

Xbox One and Your Dad

It's not even on sale yet but Microsoft think they've got a killer app with the Xbox One.

The next generation of game console promises to converge all your media and online needs AND be the hottest gaming platform ever. Bet you can't wait to pay the undisclosed price.

You gonna ask your Dad for the dough? He's got it. He's already shilling for Microsoft. Day 6 contributors Simon Pond and Aaron Hagey-Mackay imagine an X-Box One ad written by your dad.

It's our final show for May. We're back in June with another goblet of Saturday goodness. See you then.

Brent Bambury, @CBCDay6

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John Tory reacts to Rob Ford's "I do not use crack cocaine"

2013-05-25T00:00:00Z

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford finally addressed the allegations from Gawker and The Toronto Star on Friday. They allege he was caught in a cell phone video smoking crack cocaine. Mayor ford said "I do not use crack cocaine, nor am I an addict of crack cocaine". He says he can't comment on a video he hasn't seen or "doesn't exist". CBC has not seen the video and we cannot verify its contents. Throughout the whole crack cocaine saga, Rob Ford had his supporters. He posed for photos with people while being tailed by camera crews. He says he received supportive calls and emails. Now he says it's "business as usual" at City Hall. But can Toronto move on? John Tory is the a former MPP and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. He also ran for mayor of Toronto and he's the current host of CFRB 1010's Live Drive program.
]]> PREVIOUSLY:

Toronto Star's Robyn Doolittle on the crack cocaine video controversy: LINK

Could you build an actual train that runs on gravy? Why, yes, you can: LINK

Documentary: Surviving the Oklahoma tornado

2013-05-24T22:00:00Z

On Monday, a tornado tore through Moore, Oklahoma, killing at least 24 people and injuring over 300. Moore is a fast-growing suburb of Oklahoma City, right in the heart of tornado alley. This was the fourth twister to hit the community since 1999.

Abby Wendle and Sarah Geis visited the area the day after the tornado hit, and bring us a portrait of survivors Jeannie Martin, Brandi Kline, Bobby Britton and Damian Kline, who were in two of the hardest-hit spots: The Warren Theater, and the Plaza Towers Elementary School, where seven children were killed.

Sarah and Abby are part of This Land Press, a new media company out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. You can find out more about them here. And see photos related to this story by clicking "Read More".

]]> All photos: Sheilah Bright for This Land Press. Click on the images to enlarge.

Top photo: Cullen and Sara Bieger outside their home in Norman, Oklahoma. When the tornado hit, Cullen was at The Warren movie theatre in Moore.

Second: Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma, where 7 children were killed.

Third: The Animal Resource Center in Oklahoma City (right on the Moore border) works to reunite pets found at the tornado site with their owners.

Others: Taken from May 21st and 22nd in Moore and the close surrounding areas

Spelling Bee wants D-E-F-I-N-I-T-I-O-N-S

2013-05-24T21:55:00Z

For over 80 years, the Scripps National Spelling Bee has been a straightforward spelling competition. But for the first time in history, this year's spellers will qualify for the semi-finals and championship finals based on a cumulative score that incorporates both spelling, and vocabulary. Brent speaks to Emily Stagg, a past Bee competitor who was profiled in the Oscar-nominated documentary Spellbound. Emily wrote a 2006 op-ed in the New York Times calling for this change. Brent also talks to 11-year old Scripps competitor, Vanya Shivishankar, for her take.

CONTEST!

How would you do in a Scripps-style vocabulary challenge? Day 6 created a quiz for you to try. Give it a go by following the "Read More" link at the bottom of this post.

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Are "nosodes" a public health threat?

2013-05-24T21:50:00Z

As Canada's vaccination rates continue to fall and outbreaks of preventable illnesses become more common, homeopathic 'nosodes' have come under increasing scrutiny. Nosodes are remedies that homeopathic practitioners use to treat diseases including measles, influenza and the whooping cough. Medical professionals in this country are worried that nosodes are being marketed as vaccine alternatives, and could be diverting people from legitimate immunization methods. Brent speaks with Dr. Lloyd Oppel, chair of the British Columbia Council on Health Promotion, who published an article in this month's BC Medical Journal accusing Health Canada of "diluting its standards" by approving nosodes.

We want to know what you think: are nosodes putting public health at risk? Leave a comment below, or tell us via Facebook or Twitter.

To read Health Canada's statement, follow the "Read More" link at the bottom of this post.

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STATEMENT FROM HEALTH CANADA:
MAY 15, 2013

Homeopathic medicines are not vaccines. Health Canada has not licensed any homeopathic medicines for the purpose of providing immunity to a communicable disease. Health Canada continues to recommend immunization as the most effective way to prevent and control vaccine-preventable diseases.

Health Canada reviews natural health products (including nosodes which are a type of homeopathic medicine) for safety, quality, and efficacy.

The evidence required to support the safety and efficacy of a homeopathic medicine will vary depending on which category the homeopathic medicine falls into (specific or non-specific recommended use or purpose). Health Canada recognizes different levels of evidence, ranging from traditional use to randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials. Sufficient evidence must be provided to demonstrate a clear rationale for the inclusion of each medicinal ingredient in the homeopathic medicine. For a homeopathic medicine with a specific recommended use or purpose (claim), evidence must link each medicinal ingredient to the symptom(s) of the claim it is intended to address.

Nosodes have been approved with the following claim: "homeopathic preparation to be used with the advice of a health care practitioner." There is also one product that can claim "to be used in relation to symptoms following vaccination."

Please note that the practice of homeopathic medicine falls under provincial jurisdiction.

Health Canada is committed to verifying complaints regarding the quality or safety of health products. When the Department identifies, or is notified of a product that could pose a risk to health on the Canadian market, the Department will take appropriate action to help protect the health and safety of Canadians. Health Canada encourages Canadians to contact the department if there are any concerns with health products using the following guide:

"How to Submit a Consumer Complaint":

Should we abolish the Senate?

2013-05-24T21:45:00Z

The Opposition hammered the government this week over allegations that senators billed for expenses that shouldn't have been claimed. The RCMP has asked for Senator Mike Duffy's expense claims, as well as those of Senators Mac Harb and Patrick Brazeau. Meanwhile, the NDP has launched a campaign called "Roll up The Red Carpet" seeking to abolish the Senate altogether. National Post editor-at-large Diane Francis shares the NDP's sentiment. But University of Ottawa constitutional law professor Errol Mendes is against the idea. Each give a few reasons to scrap or save the Upper Chamber.

What should we do with the Senate? Tell us below, or let us know via Facebook or Twitter.

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COMMENT: Xbox One ad written by your dad

2013-05-24T21:40:00Z

On Tuesday, Microsoft unveiled its next-generation gaming console. It's called the Xbox One, and they're billing it as an all-in-one entertainment device: games, TV, you name it. It goes on sale later this year. But, in advance of that, here are Day 6 contributors Simon Pond and Aaron Hagey-Mackay with an Xbox One ad... written by your dad.

Femen: Topless protests in the Muslim world

2013-05-24T21:35:00Z

Amina Tyler was arrested in Tunisia this week for allegedly scrawling the word "FEMEN" on a wall near a prominent mosque. Femen is a feminist activist group that typically protests topless or in the nude. Amina was clothed when arrested on Sunday, but she faced death threats and imprisonment back in March for posting topless photos of herself online, in solidarity with the group. Some women in the Middle East find Femen's tactics so offensive they have formed an opposition group, called Muslim Women Against Femen. In April, Brent spoke with Inna Shevchenko, one of the principal FEMEN organizers, based in Paris, France.

Riffed from the headlines 05/25/13

2013-05-24T21:30:00Z

Riffed from the Headlines is our weekly music-meets-the-news quiz. Can you guess the story that connects the three riffs? Listen below. Email us at daysix @ cbc dot ca with your answer. Don't forget to include your mailing address, and put "Riffed From The Headlines" in the subject line. One random winner scores a Day 6 tote bag.

To find out last week's winner, follow the "Read More" link.

]]> Last week, we played "With A Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker, "Gimme Some Money" by Spinal Tap and "Bills, Bills, Bills" by Destiny's Child. The story that links them is Stephen Harper's now former Chief of Staff giving Conservative Senator Mike Duffy 90-grand to pay back improperly claimed living expenses. Derek Wilson from Port Moody, British Columbia gets the tote bag for that one.

Episode 130: Ford's Crack Allegations, Angelina Jolie and Gene Patents, Should You Read Dan Brown's Inferno? and more

2013-05-18T15:35:48Z

Drug Allegations and Rob Ford | Jolie, Gene Patents and Ethics | Should I Read It: Dan Brown's Inferno | Canadians Who Self-Represent | Victoria Day 2.0 The Mayor of Canada's largest city has been a polarizing figure since his first day in office. He nearly lost his job on a conflict of interest charge, but prevailed on appeal.

And despite a number of erratic actions and small scandals, Ford has retained the support of his base.

Now, halfway through his term he faces allegations of drug use, and unquestionably it's the most serious challenge to his incumbency yet.

A video of the mayor- not validated by the CBC- allegedly shows him lighting a glass crack pipe, inhaling, and making inappropriate remarks. The mayor denies the allegations.

Robyn Doolittle is one of the journalists at the Toronto Star who viewed the video and broke the story in Canada. She claims her paper was offered the video for a fee. We'll ask her why they decided not to purchase it and what's next in the unfolding saga of Rob Ford.

Genes and Ethics

The gene that indicated Angelina Jolie would likely develop breast cancer is patented. That means there are restrictions on testing and research on the BRCA-1 gene especially in the United States.

But what are the implications of patenting a gene that everyone has in their body?

In the case of the patent on BRCA-1 some argue the restrictions imperil women's health. The patent holders say they've made an investment in the research and deserve to also take a profit.

The United States Supreme Court is about to make a decision on that question, and there's a lot of money riding on the outcome. How does gene patenting play out in Canada? We look at that, the case in the U.S. and the ethics of gene patenting.

Should I Read Dan Brown's Inferno?

Reams of people have read Dan Brown. The author of The Da Vinci Code has 200 million books in print, that's a lot of pages of conspiracy and clunky prose circulating in the book-sphere.

Brown's latest book Inferno was highly anticipated and heavily embargoed but now it's out there and just in time for the holiday weekend.

Normally our book person Becky Toyne looks into more highbrow stuff for us, but Inferno is without doubt a publishing event. So she snagged a copy and she's here to answer the question at hand: Should I read it?

Lawyering Down

Try not to get sued. Because if you do end up in civil court, you will likely be among the 70% of Canadians who are forced to represent themselves.

Most people, even those with higher incomes, can't afford to retain council and when they can, they have no idea of the duration or overall cost of their case.

So they learn complicated law and procedure just to have their day in court. Inside the courts, un-represented litigants are putting enormous strain on a system that's not designed to be used by lay people.

University of Windsor law professor Julie MacFarlane thinks the effect of un-represented litigants is fundamentally changing our legal system and she's studied those effects. We meet her and talk to a person whose life was turned upside-down when she represented herself in court.

Queen Victoria

She was born May 24, 1819 and she was indeed the ruler of the British Empire when Canada came into existence just after her 48th birthday.

Now Canadians love Victoria Day because:

1. It's a holiday
2. It marks the beginning of summer.

Good reasons. But Kathleen Phillips wonders if maybe it's time to replace Victoria with a more recent kind of royalty.

Have a great long weekend. We're back in seven we'll see you then.

Brent Bambury, @CBCDay6

Subscribe to the podcast:

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Robyn Doolittle on Rob Ford crack allegations

2013-05-18T13:00:00Z

On Thursday, Gawker and The Toronto Star published stories claiming that their reporters had seen a cell phone video that appeared to show Toronto's Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. Toronto Star city hall reporter Robyn Doolittle tells Brent that the holders of the tape have "gone underground" since the Gawker story ran, but that she is still in contact with her source. CBC News has not seen the video and has not been able to validate any of the claims being made. Mayor Ford called the story "ridiculous" on Friday.

Angelina Jolie, breast cancer, and patenting genes

2013-05-17T19:00:00Z

After detecting a gene mutation in her body that has been commonly linked to breast cancer, Angelina Jolie chose to undergo a preventative double mastectomy. Her op-ed in the New York Times this week caused the stock of a company called Myriad to soar to a three-year high. That's because Myriad holds the patent for the BRCA1 gene that flagged Jolie as being at-risk. Myriad's gene patents are the subject of a long-fought case underway in the United States Supreme Court.

Brent speaks with Andrew Cohen, a contributing editor at The Atlantic and 60 Minutes' first-ever legal analyst, and Richard Gold, Professor of Law and Human Genetics at McGill University. You can read Cohen's latest article on gene patenting here.

Do the benefits of gene patents outweigh the costs? We want to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment on this post, or tell us via Facebook or Twitter.

Why many Canadians are forced into court without a lawyer

2013-05-17T18:55:00Z

Two-thirds of cases in family court now include at least one person who's defending themselves without the help of a lawyer. The stats climb to 70 per cent in civil court. Few do so by choice: they simply can't afford counsel. They're forced to navigate complicated legal issues and protocol alone, with little to no support from the judiciary. They often face stigma, or are branded as troublemakers.

University of Windsor law professor Julie Macfarlane interviewed over 250 self-represented litigants. Her study was published this month. It reveals a pattern of fear, anxiety and disillusionment with the justice system. One of the participants interviewed is Jennifer Muller. We speak with both.

Should you read Dan Brown's "Inferno"?

2013-05-17T18:50:00Z

Dan Brown is back with a new thriller that's the odds-on favourite for beach book of the summer. "Inferno" features the return of Robert Langdon - the hero of Brown's earlier blockbusters, Angels & Demons, The DaVinci Code, and The Lost Symbol. But is Brown's latest worth the read? To help you decide, Brent speaks to Day 6 Books columnist Becky Toyne.

For your chance to win a copy of "Inferno", e-mail us at daysix @ cbc dot ca with the word "INFERNO" in the subject line, or follow us on Twitter and send us a tweet saying you'd like to be entered in the draw. Two winners will be picked at random. Contest closes Thursday, May 23 at midnight.

Gruesome propaganda: the rise of "atrocity videos" in Syria

2013-05-17T18:45:00Z

*The following story contains graphic descriptions that may offend sensitive readers.

A gruesome new video clip from the war in Syria appears to show a rebel soldier named Khalid al-Hamad cutting an organ from the body of a dead pro-Assad soldier and biting into it. Al-Hamad told Time he did this after finding a video on the dead man's phone that shows him assaulting a naked woman and her two daughters. Horrible videos like these are used as propaganda tools, but there are concerns they are causing retaliatory violence to spread across the country. Brent speaks to Tracey Shelton, a senior correspondent for Global Post who has seen countless videos and photographs from the battlefields of Syria and Libya.

COMMENT: Rename Victoria Day for a Canadian Icon

2013-05-17T18:40:00Z

Victoria Day is a time many take to open summer cottages, rebuild the garden, enjoy the outdoors, and perhaps drink a few too many to the health of a long-dead monarch, Queen Victoria. But Day 6 contributor Kathleen Phillips wonders if maybe it's time to re-think exactly why we celebrate this long weekend, and whether a different figure of Canadian royalty is better deserving of the honour.

Riffed from the headlines 05/18/13

2013-05-17T18:35:00Z

To find out last week's winner, follow the "Read More" link.

]]> Last week, we played "That Thing" by Lauryn Hill, "Money" by Pink Floyd and "Tax Man" by the Beatles. The story that links them is Lauryn Hill getting sentenced to three months in prison for not paying about a million dollars in taxes. The winner? Leslie Robertson from Ottawa. Congratulations, Leslie!

Episode 129: Cleveland Women, Psychics and Cynicism, Printable Gun Set-back, Gatsby's Legacy and more

2013-05-10T21:19:00Z

| Sylvia Browne and Amanda Berry | Hockey Superstitions | Sex Abuse Allegations in the African Church | Cody Wilson and the 3D Gun | Not-So-Great Gatsby |

]]> When Amanda Berry disappeared in Cleveland her mother refused to give up. Amanda had been missing for a year when Miller went on The Montel Williams show in 2004 to ask the celebrity psychic to help find Amanda.

What happened was terrible. Browne told Louwanna Miller her daughter was dead and Louwanna never recovered. When she died, Louwanna Miller was only 44 years old.

Regina Brett is a columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. She got to know Louwanna Miller and remembers her as a strong, determined. loving mother who changed dramatically when Sylvia Browne made her pronouncement.

Regina Brett tells us how she thinks Louwanna was hurt by Sylvia Browne and James Randi talks about the cynical game of celebrity psychics.

Hockey Superstitions

How many Montreal Canadiens still have their beards?

The Habs were eliminated on Thursday as the first round of the playoffs winds down, and the facial hair of the remaining teams assumes semi-final length.

Growing a playoff beard is a relatively recent superstition. Andrew Podnieks says it didn't take hold until the late 1980s and it probably was started not in Canadian hockey but in Swedish tennis. Bjorn Borg used to quit shaving for Wimbledon and it worked for him.

When it comes to hockey superstitions the playoff beard is merely the most visible. Andrew's written an entire book about the strange non-rational rituals players indulge in, on and off the ice. And even the biggest stars and the most skilled get in on the mumbo jumbo.

Andrew Podnieks joins us to talk about Hockey Superstitions, From Playoff Beards to Crossed Sticks and Lucky Socks.

Sex Abuse Allegations in the African Church

The Catholic Church in Europe and North America faces a serious crisis in the sex abuse allegations and cover-ups that have come to light.

Not so in Africa. The African church has thus far largely been immune from claims of abuse, and in contrast to the troubled western churches, is a growing and vibrant institution.

In March, a well-known Ugandan priest Anthony Musaala wrote to his archbishop to raise the matter of specific allegations of sex abuse in the church including abuse he says he suffered as a boy. The letter was leaked to the public, widely discussed in African media, and Anthony Musaala has been suspended.

But the letter has exposed the issue in a culture where taboos around homosexuality complicate open discussion. Anthony Musaala joins us to talk about why he stands by his text.

Cody Wilson and the 3D Gun

New technology is about to bring manufacturing to your personal desktop. 3D printers are an emerging hardware in retail outlets, and if you buy one you can print plastic objects, like garden gnomes, clothespins or a gun.

Cody Wilson is a law student in Texas who has been pushing the idea that home manufacturing of firearms spells the end of regulation- gun control- because the information of how to print a plastic pistol can't be controlled.

Last week Cody reached a milestone. He held and fired a gun he printed himself and made the software files anyone needed to emulate him available on his site. Then on Wednesday the State Department made him take them down.

Has the government won the information war when it comes to plastic weapons? Cody thinks not. We talk to Cody Wilson about his plastic gun.

Not-So-Great Gatsby

When F. Scott Fitzgerald published The Great Gatsby in 1925 it wasn't a huge literary event, and it was never the source of the writer's celebrity during his lifetime. By time of Fitzgerald's death in 1940, Gatsby was almost a footnote to his lucrative, chaotic career.

Now Gatsby is widely hailed as the great American novel.

If Baz Luhrman's new film version of The Great Gatsby calls for a reassessment of the book, not everyone thinks it's brilliant. Kathryn Schulz rips into the slim novel in a piece called Why I Despise The Great Gatsby. She says the characters lack complexity, and everything clunks along driven by the heavy hand of the plot.

Anne Margaret Daniel is a Fitzgerald scholar who teaches at the New School in New York City. She still loves the language of Gatsby. They have a grand time talking it out.

Look at this. Next weekend is Victoria Day. Enjoy the short weekend and we'll catch you in seven on the long one.

Brent Bambury, @CBCDay6

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Sylvia Browne on Amanda Berry: "She's not alive, honey."

2013-05-10T18:00:00Z

On a 2004 episode of The Montel Williams Show, Louwana Miller sought out celebrity psychic Sylvia Browne to find out anything she could about her missing daughter, Amanda Berry. Sylvia's message to Louwana was blunt: "She's not alive, honey." But Sylvia was wrong - this week, after being held in captivity for a decade, Amanda escaped. Amanda's mother died of heart failure in 2006, never knowing how wrong Sylvia Browne had been. Brent speaks to Regina Brett, a Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist who got to know Louwana while covering Amanda's disappearance. Brent also speaks to Sylvia skeptic James Randi, who once offered Browne $1 million to prove her abilities. The Skeptical Enquirer study of Sylvia Browne's claims that James Randi refers to in the interview can be found here.

For videos of Sylvia Browne's predictions on The Montel Williams Show, follow the read more link at the bottom of this post.

]]> In 2003, Shawn Hornbeck's parents asked Sylvia to offer information on their missing son. She told the Hornbecks his could be found in a forest next to some boulders. After Shawn was found alive in 2007, the Hornbecks appeared on Anderson Cooper's 360 to denounce Sylvia.

In 1999, Audrey Sanderford asked Sylvia about the disappearance of her granddaughter, Opal Jo Jennings. Sylvia told Audrey that Opal was still alive, but had been sold into slavery in Japan. In 2003, Opal's remains were found in Texas - she'd been killed just a few hours after being abducted. More of Sylvia's missteps are documented in this compilation.

3D-printed gun plans trigger response by the US State Department

2013-05-10T17:55:00Z

Last week, Texas law student Cody Wilson fired a real bullet from the world's first 3D printed gun. Days later, his non-profit company, Defense Distributed, posted free design blueprints for the gun online. The plans were downloaded over 100,000 times before the US State Department accused Defense Distributed of violating the Arms Export Control Act and asked that they take the file down. Brent speaks to Cody about his motivations and future plans.

You can watch a video of Cody shooting the world's first 3D printed gun here. To read a statement obtained by Day 6 from the US State Department, click the read more link at the bottom of this post.

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Statement from the US State Department

May 9, 2013

"Although we do not comment on whether we have individual ongoing compliance matters, we can confirm that the Department has been in communication with the company.

Exports of non-automatic and semi-automatic firearms up to .50 caliber are controlled under the U.S. Munitions List. In accordance with the Arms Export Control Act, any person who engages in the U.S. in the business of manufacturing or exporting defense articles, furnishing defense services, or engages in arms brokering covered by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is required to register with the State Department (via the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls). Separate from the registration requirement, licenses are needed for exports of defense articles in most cases. The U.S. government views the export of defense articles and defense services as an integral part of safeguarding U.S. national security and furthering U.S. foreign policy objectives.

The United States is cognizant of the potentially adverse consequences of indiscriminate arms transfers and, therefore, strictly regulates exports of defense items and technologies to protect its national interests and those interests in peace and security of the broader international community."