Tomorrow, it will be legal to download blueprints for using a 3D printer to make guns at home. But ahead of the new ruling by the justice department, President Trump seems to be pushing back. A few hours ago, he tweeted this:
I am looking into 3-D Plastic Guns being sold to the public. Already spoke to NRA, doesn’t seem to make much sense!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018
Many gun control advocates have expressed concern over someone having the ability to make a weapon at home. Actress Alyssa Milano stated in an op-ed to CNN today,
Imagine the damage one of these guns, even if it was only capable of firing one shot, could do aboard a plane. Or in a government office. Or in your child’s classroom.
This is part of the larger problem of ghost guns. These guns are made from DIY kits, which have no serial number, require no background check and are currently fully legal due to loopholes in our laws. An internet search on ghost guns tells a terrifying tale: headlines of gangs stocking up on these untraceable weapons. Of states with strict gun laws like Massachusetts confiscating hundreds of these guns. Of a tide of guns we don’t know are out there and we don’t know how to trace.
However, Stephen Gutowski, a writer for Free Beacon, Tweeted a long thread explain how everything people are hearing about 3D printed guns is false.
Nearly everything you're hearing about 3D printed guns right now is false.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) July 31, 2018
It has also been perfectly legal for law-abiding Americans to download and print or mill these designs the whole time as well. It has also remained illegal for prohibited persons to build firearms with 3D printers or by any other means as well.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) July 31, 2018
The case everybody is talking about centers around the State Department's claim that posting gun designs on the internet constituted exporting firearms to foreign entities in violation of ITAR. https://t.co/39Gb1eWQ3j
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) July 31, 2018
The State Department only ever made this claim against Cody Wilson, the most famous person associated with 3D printed guns, and his group Defense Distributed. They don't appear to have taken action against all the other Americans posting gun designs online.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) July 31, 2018
Anyway, I've got a comment request in to the NRA about the President's confusing tweet and I'll be interviewing Cody Wilson again later today. pic.twitter.com/vlQDVuMuqx
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) July 31, 2018
Interesting.
So far the NRA has not responded to the President.