For the record, these are not guns, they are files for a 3-D printer or a CNC machine, depending on which set of files you download.
For the record, the 3-D printable gun is not and undetectable plastic gun as it needs metal parts such as firing pin, spring, and ammunition to operate, all of which can not be made of plastic. It also can't fire more than one shot without endangering the user, so I guess we could hope that stupid criminals all switch to these.
For the record, it is perfectly legal and consistent with the First Amendment to the Constitution to share information. I remember in the 80s and 90s actually having all sorts of interesting books on how to make various illegal drugs, including LSD. I never had any intention of making any of them, but it was interesting to have and perfectly legal. The left is now hypocritically claiming that having information is illegal. I'm curious, what if I have looked at the plans? Is my head now in violation? Hmmm.
So why am I telling you this now? Because I get an email from Ferguson every month or so in which he brags (mostly about his latest lawsuits) and the latest included this gem.
We blocked the legalized distribution of untraceable, undetectable 3D-printed guns to individuals, including felons and domestic violence abusers.This is a flat out LIE! It was never legal to distribute guns and, as mentioned above, they aren't undetectable. It also isn't legal to distribute guns to felons and domestic violence abusers (although I'm not sure what that last thing is, presumably he means people convicted of domestic violence who have had their Second Amendment rights taken away).
The untraceable part is interesting, however. It is currently perfectly legal under federal law to make your own gun. You can, right now, and subject to state law, walk out to your garage and build a gun using your dremel, drill, and hand tools. You can then, again subject to state law, take it down to the gun range and fire it to your heart's content. What you can't do is sell or give it to anyone else without first calling the Bureau of A. T. Firearms, and E. and having them assign you a serial number. At which point it is both traceable and legal to sell. So actually, you can (regardless of the outcome of this particular case or the existence of Defense Distributed) make all the untraceable guns you want. Ferguson and his lawsuit did nothing but tromp all over our First Amendment rights.
If you've ever watched Firefly or Serenity, however, you probably know, "you can't stop the signal". How exactly they intend to block the distribution of information on the internet I am not sure. It has been temporarily blocked here:
Defense Distributed
but you can still download them here:
https://codeisfreespeech.com/
Telling, however, that they have to lie about what they are doing to get people to support them. I suspect that if they were honest (it is legal to make your own gun; these files allow you to make a really inaccurate and dangerous one with a 3-D printer; better guns are readily available pretty much everywhere) most people wouldn't care. Instead they have ginned up some fake outrage (remember when Glock started selling guns?), they have the public convinced that this is the biggest threat to the United States since King George sent his armies; and they now have the federal judiciary involved in preventing free speech. I am confident that this will be overturned, but it is just one more example of why we need to remain vigilant, not matter how tired we are of politics.
If you want to support the cause, there is a cool t-shirt available at the codeisfreespeech link above. Looks like this. I already have mine and I just noticed (while fetching this picture) that they have added a "Can't stop the signal" t-shirt. Sweet. I guess I am supporting them some more.
No comments:
Post a Comment