The plastics used in these guns can not be autoclaved that is a fact There are techniques that can be used to sterilize non autoclavable material Cold Sterilization radiation and Ethylene Oxide Sterilization EtO Body piercers also typically have no medical training which puts them on a par with body piercers Local health departments exist specifically to deal with such concerns on a local level and although those who earn their living by using piercing needles do sometimes oppose the use of piercing guns their concerns have not been reflected by the health community or the general public and so I do not feel that Wikipedia is a proper forum for attacks on piercing guns The jewelry used in piercing guns comes pre sterilized so having no sterilization equipment on hand is irrelevant assuming that the pre sterilized studs packaging is not damaged and that the gun and jewelry is handled properly Reference source The Body Piercing Encyclopedia Volume 1 Library of Congress Control Number 2002106781 ISBN number 0 9720525 0 X