ST. GEORGE – A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday blocking the online release of blueprints that would allow anyone to create a 3D-printed gun. However, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and Sen. Mike Lee have been criticized by a Utah group for their failure to join other states in taking action against the release.
The plans to release the blueprints came from Texas-based Defense Distributed following a settlement in June with the federal government that would allow the company to release them online Wednesday. However, concerns from the attorneys general of eight states and the District of Columbia that the 3D-printed guns are a public safety risk resulted in the release of the blueprints being halted for the time being.
There is a possibility of irreparable harm because of the way these guns can be made,“There is a possibility of irreparable harm because of the way these guns can be made,” said Seattle-based U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik, who issued the order.
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson called the ruling “a complete, total victory.”
Ferguson was one of the eight Democrat attorney generals who filed suit for the temporary restraining order.
The pending release of the blueprints to the public has also apparently drawn concern from President Donald Trump, who tweeted Tuesday that he is looking in the issue and that “it doesn’t seem to make sense!”
This article was originally published by Mori Kessler in the St. George News. If you would like to view the full article, click here.
