A federal judge in Seattle is hearing arguments today on whether to block a settlement the U.S. State Department reached with a company that would allow it to post blueprints for printing 3D weapons on the internet.
You'll recall that we talked about the issue just days after the State Department reached the agreement with Defense Distributed, a Texas-based company. Gun Law Expert Emily Taylor told me that the agreement was no big deal, given that 1) you can already buy guns to be assembled 2) plans like this are already available and 3) plastic guns are already illegal.
But just over a week later, the story was suddenly a big deal - because gun control advocates decided it should be. After all, we've got an election to win and liberals to fire up!
One BIG argument being made by the states that have sued over the blueprints - in including Iowa - is that the guns could be made of plastic and therefore undetectable.
But, according to this article, plastic guns are already illegal.
After the Justice Department filed its brief opposing the injunction, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a statement saying plastic weapons are already illegal and are a risk to public safety. "The Department of Justice will use every available tool to vigorously enforce this prohibition," Sessions said.
I think this fight reflects the silliness implicit in many arguments for gun control: we are trying to make something that's illegal even MORE illegal. Because even MORE illegal deters criminals. Criminals will stop illegally possessing guns when they are assured that such illegal possession is REALLY, REALLY, illegal.