3D-printed guns

Trump says public availability of 3D-printed guns 'doesn't seem to make much sense'

By LOUIS NELSON

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he is “looking into” the availability of plans for the 3D printing of guns, writing on Twitter that he had already been in touch with the NRA on the issue.

“I am looking into 3-D Plastic Guns being sold to the public. Already spoke to NRA, doesn’t seem to make much sense!” the president wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning.

After a years-long legal battle, Defense Distributed, a Texas-based group, has announced plans to release instructions on Wednesday for guns that can be created by a 3-D printer, including a handgun and parts for a semi-automatic assault rifle. Although plans were not supposed to be available until Wednesday, instructions have already begun to appear online for download, CNN reported Tuesday.

3D-printed weapons could be printed without serial numbers, spurring concern about the impact such untraceable weapons could have. Attorneys general from eight states, plus the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration, according to NPR, seeking a nationwide temporary restraining order that would block Defense Distributed from publishing its 3D printing instructions for guns.

"I have a question for the Trump Administration: Why are you allowing dangerous criminals easy access to weapons?" Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson asked in a statement released on Monday. "These downloadable guns are unregistered and very difficult to detect, even with metal detectors, and will be available to anyone regardless of age, mental health or criminal history.”

Trump has long touted his credentials as a strong supporter of gun rights, addressing the NRA’s national convention and regularly reminding conservative audiences that he received the earliest ever endorsement from the gun rights advocacy group.

But the president has also, at times, shown a willingness to break with the NRA, including in the wake of a mass shooting at a Florida high school last spring, after which Trump briefly expressed support for certain gun control measures and accused lawmakers of being “afraid of the NRA.” Trump later backed away from the gun control proposals, which included tougher age restrictions for the purchase of certain guns, and has advocated for training and arming teachers in order to keep schools safe.

The NRA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.