In 2013, the U.S. State Department ordered a company to remove its online blueprints for a 3D printed plastic firearm for its violation of federal export laws (the instructions were downloaded abroad). Before its removal, however, it was downloaded 100,000 times. Five years of court battles later, the company has won the right to re-post the blueprints under a settlement reached by the Trump administration. Gun control advocates have fought against such 3D printed weapons, as their plastic material and unmanaged production would make them both difficult to detect and track. Their opponents argue that this method is not an improvement upon other currently available methods, and that the weapons are inaccurate and break after firing a few rounds. Gun control groups are working to appeal the decision and lobby for laws restricting this kind of weapon.
Source: 3D-printing guns in your home? A Texas company just got the green light to give you instructions
