Press Releases
01/22/2020
AG Tong Announces Lawsuit to Block Release of 3D Printed Gun Files
Federal judge found previous attempt unlawful
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement after Connecticut and 20 other states filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s effort to allow online release of 3D-printed gun files. These files would allow plug-and-play access to 3D-print unregistered, untraceable firearms that can also be very difficult to detect, even with a metal detector. Untraceable firearms are sometimes called “ghost guns.”
"The dangers of 3D printed ghost guns are not theoretical. These unregistered, untraceable weapons have already been seized on the streets of Hartford and Waterbury. At a California school last year, a student shot and killed two classmates using a ghost gun he assembled from a kit. Here in Connecticut, we have some of the strongest gun safety laws on the books, but our statutes can only go so far if the federal government enables the proliferation of these DIY untraceable weapons. Our multistate coalition succeeded before in blocking the online release of these plans, and we will continue this fight for as long as it takes to protect public safety and national security," said Attorney General Tong.
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Media Contact:
Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
860-808-5324 (office)
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