A federal judge in Seattle has ruled to extend a ban on 3-D gun blueprint provider Defense Distributed amidst concerns over the new technology.
The ruling to uphold the ban is the latest in Defense Distributed’s struggle with federal authorities, who blocked the company from providing 3-D printable materials as far back as 2013. The technology, which would allow users with the proper equipment to print firearm components at home, has garnered criticism from Democratic lawmakers as well as President Donald Trump.
Opponents of the technology say 3-D guns would be both harder to track and identify, seeing as they would be unable to be detected with X-ray machines. Defense Distributed director Cody Wilson maintains this wouldn’t be a problem, as the 3-D printed devices are obviously firearms.
“I doubt seriously that it’s a real problem,” he said. “If it is a problem, then the [security] norms will have to change.”
The legal battle between Defense Distributed and the federal courts comes after the state of Pennsylvania moved to block access to its websites after the company was cleared to continue operating earlier in 2018. States with notably harsher gun control laws have also sued the federal government over the issue, charging that it reached a settlement with the company with no accountability.
States involved in the lawsuit include Washington, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
While 3-D printed firearms are certainly a new technology, to suggest they pose the same threat as properly put together weapons is absurd. All demonstrations of the printed devices thus far have paled in comparison to traditional firearms. Moreover, the move by federal authorities to restrict this new technology has amounted to little more than an assault on the Second Amendment online.
Hopefully, Defense Distributed will make it through this madness.
~ Firearm Daily
