Trump Administration Blocked From Enforcing 3D-Printed Gun Rule

A group of U.S. states won a court order blocking the Trump administration from implementing new regulations that they allege would allow anyone with a 3D printer to make firearms at home.

A federal judge in Seattle on Friday issued a preliminary injunction blocking the rules, which the states contend are a “toothless prohibition” on computer software that allowed for the production of guns using a 3D printer and would lead to the “widespread proliferation” of such weapons. The rules were scheduled to take effect Monday.

The Obama administration had blocked a company from publishing computer-aided design files for guns on the internet for years. The State Department reversed course in 2018 and settled litigation with the firm. In November, a federal judge ruled in a related lawsuit that the State Department didn’t give the public a proper explanation for the reversal.

The states sued in January to block the regulations from going into effect.

U.S. District Judge Richard Jones said in his decision that he must acknowledge the “grave reality” that is likely if the rules aren’t blocked.

“The proliferation of 3D gun files on the internet likely renders ineffective arms embargoes, export controls and other measures used to restrict the availability of uniquely dangerous weapons sought by those seeking to commit acts of terrorism or other serious crimes” and “implicates serious national security and public interests,” Jones said.

The case is State of Washington v. U.S. Department of State, 20-cv-111, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington (Seattle).