The group that sparked outrage by publishing blueprints on how to make 3-D printed plastic handguns has removed the plans from its Web site at the request of the State Department.
Betabeat reports that Texas-based non-profit Defense Distributed took down the plans after receiving a letter from the State Department’s Office of Defense Trade Compliance.
“We got an official letter from the Secretary of State, telling me who they were, what their authority was under U.S. law and telling me they want to review these files to see if they’re class one munitions,” Defense Distributed founder Cody Wilson told Betabeat.
“That includes blueprints.”
The letter said publishing the plans could violate the Arms Export Control Act if it’s determined Defense Distributed is transferring “controlled defense articles and technical data” to a foreigner.
Defense Distributed published a video this week showing the fully-functioning “Liberator” in action.
The gun — which fires regular ammo and can be equipped with a silencer — drew particular scrutiny because it can fool metal detectors and can technically be made with 3-D printers anywhere.
Forbes reported that the plans were downloaded more than 100,000 times before the plans were removed from the site.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) on Sunday ripped Defense Distributed for having posted the blueprints.
“This is a reckless and irresponsible thing to do, and it puts Americans at increased risk of violence from criminals and even terrorists,’’ said Schumer.
“Everyone’s seen the movie ‘In the Line of Fire,’ where one of the great bad guys, [played by] John Malkovich, labored at making a gun out of plastic and wood so it could get through metal detectors and he could assassinate the president.
“But that was only a movie, and just [last] week, it has become reality,” he added, as he proposed legislation to make such guns illegal.
“We’re facing a situation where anyone — a felon, a terrorist — can open a gun factory in their garage and the weapons they make will be undetectable. It’s stomach-churning.”