U.S. Stance on 3-D Printed Guns `Rings Hollow,' Judge Says
- Suit by 19 states seeks to block publishing of 3-D gun plans
- Austin-based Defense Distributed calls it a free-speech fight
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A U.S. judge extended a ban on publishing blueprints for 3-D printed guns online, handing a procedural victory to states and gun-control groups that argue the practice will make it easy for criminals and terrorists to get their hands on untraceable firearms.
The injunction against Austin, Texas-based Defense Distributed was issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik in Seattle, where 19 states and the District of Columbia sued to block it from making technical plans for an array of guns available globally on the internet with the government’s blessing. The injunction will remain in place until the suit is resolved.