Federal judge blocks release of plans for 3D-printed guns

A federal judge temporarily blocked the release of blueprints for 3D-printed guns on Tuesday, only a day before they were supposed to be made public. 

Defense Distributed reached a settlement with the U.S. State Department last month which would’ve allowed it to release blueprints for guns — including AR-15-like rifles — that could be downloaded and built with the help of 3D printers. 

But then eight states filed a last-minute lawsuit to stop the release of the information. Judge Robert S. Lasnik in Seattle agreed with the state attorneys general that the release of Defense Distributed’s files would cause “a likelihood of irreparable harm,” according to the New York Times.

The states sought a restraining order and an injunction to block the gun info from being posted on the internet.

After the judge’s decision, Defense Distributed’s website still had a large message promoting the Aug. 1 download date. “The age of the downloadable gun formally begins,” the website states.

Earlier, rulings in New Jersey and Pennsylvania temporarily stopped Defense Distributed’s blueprints from being posted in those states.