25 State Attorneys General Demand Trump Administration Kill Online 3D Files

Many of the usual suspects are back again, tearing their hair out over the fact that Defense Distributed has once again made a library of 3D gun files available through their website.

Note that these attorneys general trout out, once again, the bogus scare tactic claim that 3D guns will somehow be undetectable to airport security metal detectors.

You can read the full letter here.

As both the State and Commerce Departments have recognized, effectively controlling the dissemination of these 3D-printed firearm files via the internet is “in the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.” 85 Fed. Reg. 3819, 3823 (Jan. 23, 2020). “In the absence of controls on the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of such technology and software, such items could be easily used in the proliferation of conventional weapons, the acquisition of destabilizing numbers of such weapons, or for acts of terrorism.” 85 Fed. Reg. 4136, 4140 (Jan. 23, 2020).

Anyone who downloads and uses Defense Distributed’s computer files—even if that person is ineligible to possess a firearm due to their age, criminal history, or other disqualifying factor— would be able to automatically manufacture functional weapons that cannot be detected by a standard metal detector and, furthermore, are untraceable because they lack serial numbers. The proliferation of undetectable weapons will seriously compromise security and public safety in locations such as airports, schools, prisons, sporting events, music venues, and government buildings. Easy access to untraceable weapons will also impede law enforcement’s ability to investigate and respond to crimes committed with these uniquely dangerous weapons. Continued dissemination of these files will increase the risk of terrorist attacks and gun violence across the United States.

We strongly urge the federal government to act swiftly to ensure compliance with its export control regulations and the Undetectable Firearms Act to protect our national security and public safety interests.