The plan for the 3D printing of weapons is again allowed online

In 2013, the inventor of the first 3D printed handgun put a video online. In this paper, Cody Wilson, then law student in the American city of Austin, Texas, introduced the Liberator. He aimed at the white plastic model and pulled the trigger. A real bullet pierced the target

Wilson calls himself "crypto-anarchist" with libertarian beliefs, which plead not only for the free possession of weapons but also for the free distribution of information. . He placed the design of his weapon online so that interested parties could download the code. A few years later, the US federal government summoned Wilson to suppress the master plan

Danger for National Security

According to the US State Department, Wilson violated the international export law of the United States. weapons, which states that a license is required for distribution. The ministry called 3D printed weapons a threat to national security.

Wilson responded to the subpoena, but filed a lawsuit with Defense Distributed, the non-profit organization he founded to make the plans accessible to all. to define. According to him, not only the right to possession of firearms, but also the right to freedom of expression were compromised

. In June, the ministry reached a settlement, after five years of trial, particularly favorable to Wilson. It was agreed that Defense Distributed could publish plans and manuals online, "for the public at large" and "in any form". The department would also pay Wilsons' legal fees. Critics complained that the ministry gave no clear explanation for its sudden change in the case.

Anyone with a 3D printer can make a plastic gun himself that is not visible during inspections. Although: The CNR did not succeed in 2013.

"The era of downloadable weapons officially began," reports Defense Distributed in large black letters on the site. In the meantime, the Wilsons organization has collected plans for various firearms. So Wednesday not only Liberator (still) online, but also other models. These drawings could already be found on the internet and on the black market. But Wilsons aims to create a legal database. Defense Distributed also sells the necessary 3D printers.

"We invite users, professionals and enthusiasts to download this technical information for handguns and to add information themselves," explains Defense Distributed, its own mission. The blueprints database is "the only site in this category authorized by the US government".

But allowed or unauthorized, fierce opponents point out that with 3D plans, people without a license can easily access a firearm. After all, weapons can be made of plastic at home. Users have access to unregistered weapons without a serial number. Such untraceable DIY weapons – also called ghosts – are loved by criminals. The enforcement of weapons legislation and the detection of weapons will therefore be very difficult.

Also take a look at the exploder of the 3D printing of firearms. The text continues under the video

Metal pin

The Liberator model contains a metal striker (not to print, but without a serial number for sale) and an external metal element. Thus, Wilson's first printed gun complies with the American Undetectable Firearms Act, which prohibits the production, sale or purchase of firearms that can not be traced by the metal detector

. The country is about to become much less safe, said Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer after the announcement of the settlement.

Activists against possession of weapons were surprised because the federal government had already made small victories against distributed Defense. Some opponents find the moment of the decision suspicious. For example, a supporter of the Moms Demand Action Action Group wrote: "In the meantime, nothing important has been changed for export laws and weapons, nor has it been changed. for 3D design. The only thing that is different: the government. The Obama administration has banned the weapons, but from the Trumps department, they can suddenly do it. Where would it be? "

But President Trump had a different sound Tuesday." I'm doing research on 3D plastic weapons that can be sold to the public. Having already spoken to the NRA, does not seem logical! ", He tweeted, referring to the defense organization.

The legal battle over 3D printed weapons is now entering a new phase: in eight different states, including New York and New Jersey, the Attorneys General filed a complaint against the federal government last Sunday, it was already determined that the state of Pennsylvania could prevent residents from downloading the plans.The distributed defense must block visitors to this state