They had other stolen firearms yet the 3d printed one is the one they are worried about.
I'm not sure what this "firing mechanism" is he speaks of unless he's referring to the trigger. Since most of a lower is polymer anyway this would be the easiest, most reliable part to create with a 3D Printer. The bolt, bolt carrier group, action and charging handle are all in the upper, all part of the "firing mechanism" and all take the most stress in firing along with the barrel itself.
Chiloquin area is where much of our local crime originates. It is primarily native american population.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 734 people, 281 households, and 179 families residing in the city. The population density was 895.1 inhabitants per square mile (345.6/km2). There were 356 housing units at an average density of 434.1 per square mile (167.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 49.2% Native American, 40.7% White, 0.1% African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 9.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.5% of the population.
Relevant:
Case “U.S. vs Stewart” almost made it to the Supreme Court, arguing legality of a felon to make his own machine gun from scratch, but was dismissed based on “U.S. vs Raich” which held the feds could ban activity which reduced demand in illegal interstate commerce.
You have not been deep enough into the back-woods until you’ve been to Chiloquin.
I drove into “town” one day, parked and meandered over to the bridge to look down at the trout.
A 14 year old 5’ 6” 120 pound long-haired “brave” separated from his buds and with clenched fists started marching over to confront me (50 y.o., 5’ 11”, 180 pounds, white guy in full fighting fettle).
I didn’t need a street fight on my record, no matter that he started it and I ended it. So, I skeedaddled back to the truck, and peeled out of there.
That’s Chiloquin.
In the case I saw. The federal DA showed that there was DNA and finger prints on both guns and ammo. That was all that was required. The I didn't possess if feel to the hard evidence of fingerprints and DNA, so he did possess it at one time, which was illegal.