[kirklancaster]

A US federal judge in Seattle has blocked the release of software that allows consumers to 3D-print firearms.



Gun access advocacy group Defense Distributed published downloadable gun blueprints five days early on Friday.

The firm had reached a settlement with the Trump administration in June to allow it to legally publish the plans.

But eight states and the District of Columbia sued the government on Monday to block the settlement, arguing the untraceable guns were a safety risk.

US District Judge Robert Lasnik issued a temporary restraining order halting the release hours before the 1 August deadline, saying the blueprints could fall into the wrong hands.

"There are 3D printers in public colleges and public spaces and there is the likelihood of potential irreparable harm," he said.

Judge Lasnik scheduled another hearing for 10 August.

Although Defense Distributed had been expected to publish the blueprints on Wednesday, it uploaded files for nine types of gun to its website last week. Between Friday and Sunday, more than 1,000 people downloaded the files for building an AR-15 rifle - the same gun used in many of America's mass shootings.

Which states are fighting the release?

New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Maryland in addition to the District of Columbia are involved.

The complaint calls the 1 Aug release of gun blueprints "a bell that cannot be un-rung".



"The Government has made no determination regarding the national security implications of the agreement, or its effects on sovereign US states' ability to protect the safety of those within their borders."

In addition, 20 state attorneys general have written to the State Department and Department of Justice about blocking the gun blueprints online.

What's been the reaction?
Speaking outside the court, Washington attorney general Bob Ferguson called the judge's decision a "complete, total victory".

"Everything we asked for we got from Judge Lasnik," he said, and called on President Trump to make it "unlawful for anyone to make this information available for anyone".

The president had tweeted on Tuesday before the ruling that selling 3D guns to the public "doesn't seem to make much sense" after settling with Defense Distributed in June.

Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
I am looking into 3-D Plastic Guns being sold to the public. Already spoke to NRA, doesn’t seem to make much sense!

1:03 PM - Jul 31, 2018

End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump

But the group's founder Cody Wilson told the BBC the 3D gun was not a threat to public safety.

"I haven't watched any crimes be committed with it," he said.

"As far as I know only one person's ever been arrested because of this gun and it was gentleman in Japan who was curious about making it."

How was the printable gun developed?
The arguments began in 2013 when Mr Wilson, a self-styled crypto-anarchist, showed off the world's first 3D-printed gun.

Files showing how to replicate the process were immediately made available on the Defense Distributed website and downloaded hundreds of thousands of times.

It led the US State Department to order them to be removed from the internet.

There followed a four-year legal battle, with Defense Distributed joining forces with the Second Amendment Foundation - which defends the right to own guns - to sue the State Department.

Last month, in a surprise move, it won its case, with the US Justice Department ruling that Americans may "access, discuss, use and reproduce" the technical data.

Mr Wilson hailed his victory as the beginning of "the age of the downloadable gun".

But critics are concerned it will see a massive rise in so-called ghost guns, unregistered weapons the government is unaware of and is unable to trace.

Since the legal action began, Defense Distributed has been working on new gun designs and has also created a milling device - known as Ghost Gunner - that can turn parts purchased online into a fully working weapon.
..............................

More ****ING insanity which should be STOPPED permanently.

[Mokka]

Now is the time to take away my kids 3D printer

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

But the group's founder Cody Wilson told the BBC the 3D gun was not a threat to public safety.

"I haven't watched any crimes be committed with it," he said.

TiBB logic goes mainstream

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Mokka

Now is the time to take away my kids 3D printer

It is such a shame that you should even have to contemplate such an action though, Mokka, just because these maniacs are allowed to perpetrate this utter insanity.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

TiBB logic goes mainstream

[Mokka]

I'm kidding kirky
My kid would never make a gun. He spent the last two weeks designing and printing a proper watch clasp lol

[Mokka]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

TiBB logic goes mainstream

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Mokka

I'm kidding kirky
My kid would never make a gun. He spent the last two weeks designing and printing a proper watch clasp lol

A well-raised kid.

[arista]

They are saying its already out there,
I did threads on this years ago
infact it was out before the Previous President
stopped it.

[Toy Soldier]

In all seriousness, there's really no way to stop or block it. The plans and instructions will be available on the dark web (along with bomb building instructions, etc.)

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

In all seriousness, there's really no way to stop or block it. The plans and instructions will be available on the dark web (along with bomb building instructions, etc.)

The world has REALLY gone to ****. The Lunatics ARE truly running the asylum.

[bitontheslide]

if a nutter wants to get their hands on a weapon they will. Removing it from general availability just reduces the chances of normal folks getting their hands on something

Its the equivalent of having a knife on display in the kitchen. If there is an argument there is less chance of injury if its hidden away in a drawer

[Maru]

Most ppl who probably make these are enthusiasts... ie for sh* and giggles. Says the wife of a man who just bought a new trigger kit, having had a guy at the shop lose one tiny spring from the original setup, now has to order a new assembly over a teeny teeny spring.

Modification and home-builds have always been common and is legal. AR-15s particularly are so loved for being so modular you can change pieces out, change the recoil, trigger weight, add scopes, etc... they are often entirely home built.

There was a prior block on the spread of files per Obama but it to do with preventing these files moving abroad, not with citizens making them. Also woooo ghost guns... every collector probably has a nice chuckle with that one. Serial numbers are required on new manufacture but they weren't always required, so some older rifles may not have a serial at all. We don't have a gun registry in the sense every gun can be traced to its current owner... registration is for purposes of tracking newer weapons that can allow POS to be traced to a crime scene... but in practice a gun registry would defeat the purposes of owning to secure Constitutional rights.

[Northern Monkey]

It’s a good move for them to not be legal but banning things is’nt going to stop the nutters getting hold of them or even designing their own.There’s probably all kinds of programs and designs already out there.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

It’s a good move for them to not be legal but banning things is’nt going to stop the nutters getting hold of them or even designing their own.There’s probably all kinds of programs and designs already out there.

True and you could say the same about Heroin I guess

[arista]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

if a nutter wants to get their hands on a weapon they will. Removing it from general availability just reduces the chances of normal folks getting their hands on something

Its the equivalent of having a knife on display in the kitchen. If there is an argument there is less chance of injury if its hidden away in a drawer

Lets hope ,if they get it finally all built
it will fire wrong and take their hand out

[Tom4784]

They can't stop the current (thankfully primitive) designs from being out there but hopefully the legislation going forward will put the kibosh on more sophisticated designs that can survive more than a few shots becoming widespread.

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

True and you could say the same about Heroin I guess

Well, people technically can shoot with both...