The parts for the Liberator are almost completely 3D printed. The only nonplastic components of the weapon are the firing pin -- a standard metal nail -- and a six-ounce piece of steel whose function is to make the gun spottable with a metal detector. (The US Undetectable Firearms Act prohibits weapons that don't set off a metal detector.) Defense Distributed
The debate over 3D-printed guns has hit its melting point.
The battle about how to handle blueprints for plastic guns has raged for years, but it flared up in a big way in July after the US State Department settled a legal case and let an organization called Defense Distributed go ahead and release plans online.
That prompted eight state attorneys general to sue the State Department[1], on July 30. The same day, 20 state attorneys general sent a letter (PDF[2]) to the State Department and Justice Department, saying the guns should be stopped.
On July 31, a Seattle judge granted a temporary restraining order to block the publication of blueprints[3] until a hearing set for Aug. 10. But it's now rescheduled to Aug. 21, according to court records released on Friday.
Eleven more states on Aug. 2 joined the plaintiffs -- making it a 19-state lawsuit[4] against the State Department and Defense Distributed.
The back-and-forth underscores the broader fight pitting First and Second Amendment rights protecting free speech and gun ownership against public safety and the need to protect against easy access to weapons. It also comes amid a broader discussion of gun control in light of an increasing number of public shooting incidents.
This isn't a simple case, so CNET's here to break it down for you.
