Gun rights activists allowed to post plans for 3-D printed guns online

ByCNN
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Gun rights activist allowed to post plans for 3-D printed guns online
The government has reached an agreement with a gun rights activist allowing plans for 3-D printable guns to be posted online starting in August.

A judge's ruling brought a victory for gun advocates on Friday.

People across the country will not only be able to own a gun, but they will have the ability to build it from scratch. All folks will need is a 3D printer.

A settlement between gun-rights activists and the government has cleared the way to post plans for 3D printed guns online.
CNN | Courtesy Marisa Vasquez

Beginning Aug. 1 that will be the nation's new reality.

"This is something we do not need in society right now. Not now, not ever," said Rosalind Clark-Stewart, resident.

Anyone can simply go online, find a 3D plan for a gun and print it off on their 3D printer.

"To make a law that says you can't make something or pass on how to make something, that would be hard to do," said Glenn Duncan, owner of Duncan's Outdoor Shop.

In 2013, a man named Cody Wilson posted plans for a 3D printed handgun online. The government ordered him to take it down. A court fight ensued and ultimately, they settled the case saying he could publish his plans online.

Duncan said it's the same thing as a "how to" book.

"Same thing is that you can go to the library and buy a book at the library on how to build a gun, how to build anything. So are we gonna get rid of books," Duncan said.

The printed guns will not have serial numbers and will be untraceable. Because they will be made out of plastic they could get through metal detectors as well.

"I think this is very frightening. I think this should not be permitted," Clark-Stewart said.

Like many gun issues, the jury is still out on what's right or wrong.

"Do we wanna give up rights? That's gonna be a big battle," Duncan said.

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