The controversy over 3-D guns has been raging since the first plans hit the internet back in 2013. The leading proponent behind the development of 3-D printed guns is former law student Cody Wilson. He is so confident in the viability of the homemade weapon, he built an organization around it. His non-profit firm, Defense Distributed promotes “private defense tech development in the public interest.”
Plans for making the printable firearms were uploaded to the web for any gun enthusiast to download and use. Gun enthusiasts downloaded the blueprints over 100,000 times before the U.S. State Department ordered Wilson to remove them. The State Department cited the violation of federal export laws since people in other countries can download the plans.
3-D Guns Back in the News
Recently, the issue has again come to the forefront of the current conversation on gun ownership in America. In a surprising reversal, the State Department settled the case against Wilson. Defense Distributed was to resume posting the plans without interference from the feds at the end of July of 2018. A lawyer for the Justice Department, Erik Soskin, explained that the government created the regulations for the restriction of weapons of war. Since the plans that Wilson was distributing were for handguns, the law did not apply.
When Wilson announced on Twitter that plans to build 3-D guns would again be available for download, the backlash began. Anti-gun groups like the Giffords Law Center and the Brady Campaign filed an appeal. Subsequently, on July 27, 2018, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman opposed, ruling against the groups. In retaliation to the judge’s ruling, eight attorneys general, all Democrats, filed a lawsuit to block the settlement and thwart Wilson’s progress. The group of Democratic attorneys also requested a restraining order based on the assumption that 3-D guns pose a significant safety risk.
On July 31, 2018, U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik issued a temporary restraining order to prevent Cody Wilson and Defense Distributed from making the blueprints for 3-D guns available for download.
Why Do Authorities Want 3-D Guns Stopped?
Law enforcement officers and gun control advocates want to stop the availability of the plans. This is because the 3-D guns are difficult to trace and are easy to conceal and transport. Advocates of the right for Americans to download and use plans to build 3-D guns argue that the plans are no different than any available for building conventional guns. They argue that it’s unlikely criminals will pay much interest since the 3-D printers needed to build the 3-D guns are very expensive. Also, the end product is not very durable or dependable. Wilson himself has dismissed the concerns about 3-D printed guns becoming a trend in criminal activity because they are bulky and difficult to conceal.
According to NRA representative Dana Loesch, the 3-D printing of guns is more of an issue of suppression of “freedom and innovation.” President Trump expressed concern about 3-D guns being sold to the public. However, the press misrepresented him as being against the plans being available on the internet. In a tweet, President Trump stated, “I am looking into 3-D Plastic Guns being sold to the public. Already spoke to NRA, doesn’t seem to make much sense!”
The 3-D Gun & Freedom of Speech Connection
Ultimately, the argument comes down to the freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. Cody Wilson is a staunch supporter of the 1st and 2nd amendments. The sharing of information is a separate issue altogether from the legality and use of plastic firearms. Since information of all kinds is available on the internet, including plans for building other types of weapons, there is little to support the discrimination against Wilson and his endeavor. Yet, the anti-gun activists continue to fight for the takedown of Defense Distributed.
The attempt to suppress information becomes more difficult by the day. In fact, some of the plans for building 3-D guns have already leaked to other websites. Plans for 3-D printed AR-15’s, AR-10’s, the Liberator (Defense Distributed’s original 3-D printed gun), and other types of guns are downloadable online at other sites.
In summary, supporters of Defense Distributed and founder Cody Wilson see the opposition as a threat to American civil liberties. Those who oppose Wilson’s crusade to share this information see the plans as yet another means for guns to fall into the hands of criminals. Anti-gun activists worry that terrorists and criminals will embrace 3-D guns for their ability to pass through metal detectors in airports, schools, and other public places.
The genie likely cannot and will not be stuffed back into the bottle. The blueprints for 3-D guns are out there and available to all, regardless of intent to use. Regardless, law enforcement and airport screeners will need to adjust their detection methods as they have with other weapons and volatile substances.
Defense for Weapons Possession or Sale Charges
If you’ve been arrested for weapons-related charges, call the Law Office of Troy A. Smith. Mr. Smith has more than 24 years of legal experience as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney. Call (212) 537-4029 for a free initial consultation.
