New Jersey AG calls temporary ban on 3D gun blueprints a victory

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said if the state finds other websites that offer those gun blueprints, he’ll take them down.

(Big Stock photo)

(Big Stock photo)

New Jersey’s top law enforcement officer says a federal judge’s decision to temporarily block a Texas company from posting codes online that enable people to make guns with a 3D printer is a big win for public safety.

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said if the state finds other websites that offer those gun blueprints, he’ll take them down.

“We can’t roll over and allow this to be out in the public domain and allow it to be easy for criminals to hit print and make a weapon,” he said.  “I can control the distribution of firearms, but I can’t control the distribution of printers. Right? So I don’t want to make it easier for people to get firearms who shouldn’t have them in the first place.”

Legal arguments will be heard next week in the federal case on whether an injunction is needed.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Grewal said he’ll do everything in his power to keep the untraceable firearms out of the hands of terrorists and criminals. He agrees with President Trump’s tweet that allowing the public to have access to 3D guns doesn’t make sense.

“It is the height of insanity to allow these codes to be out there where anyone without restriction can print these firearms, where felons, terrorists, domestic violence abusers who can’t obtain firearms can easily access these firearms,” said Grewal.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal