HP = Homemade Pistol?

I remember my first Hewlett-Packard printer. I was so excited. I couldn’t believe all the things I could create, from the comfort of home: greeting cards, mailing labels, banners, iron-ons…

Cody Wilson has discovered one more item: a gun, thanks to the miracle of 3-D printing.

As a result, President Trump tweeted Tuesday that he’s “looking into [it]”:

“I am looking into 3-D Plastic Guns being sold to the public. Already spoke to NRA, doesn’t seem to make much sense!”

I am looking into 3-D Plastic Guns being sold to the public. Already spoke to NRA, doesn’t seem to make much sense!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018

The Commander-in-Chief said he’s spoken to the National Rifle Association about the matter, which “doesn’t make much sense.”

According to The New York Times, Wilson was granted permission to post his schematics by the State Department.

In response to that decision, 21 state attorneys contacted AG Jeff Sessions as well as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, arguing in a letter that the release of firearm designs for printing is “deeply dangerous and could have an unprecedented impact on public safety.”

The chief legal officers in 21 states wrote that a settlement by the government that allows plans for 3-D-printable guns to be posted online was “deeply dangerous and could have an unprecedented impact on public safety” https://t.co/1Rc0Me0s95

— NYT National News (@NYTNational) July 31, 2018

Nevertheless, gun blueprints are nothing new. Stephen Gutowski, of the Washington Free Beacon, points out the fact that others are already available on the web, and they aren’t as undetectable as one might imagine:

“Gun blue prints are and have long been readily available on the internet. A simple Google search shows this. The thing every politician, activist, and media personality warns will end the world tomorrow has literally been happening everyday since these blueprints were created. It has also been perfectly legal for law-abiding Americans to download and print or mill these designs the whole time as well. It has also remained illegal for prohibited persons to build firearms with 3D printers or by any other means as well. The vast majority of 3D printed gun designs are not undetectable to metal detectors. The majority are mostly made of metal because most of their parts have to be sourced from actual firearms manufacturers. Under federal law it would be illegal to build a gun that’s undetectable.”

Gun blue prints are and have long been readily available on the internet. A simple Google search shows this. The thing every politician, activist, and media personality warns will end the world tomorrow has literally been happening everyday since these blueprints were created.

— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) July 31, 2018

It has also been perfectly legal for law-abiding Americans to download and print or mill these designs the whole time as well. It has also remained illegal for prohibited persons to build firearms with 3D printers or by any other means as well.

— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) July 31, 2018

The vast majority of 3D printed gun designs are not undetectable to metal detectors. The majority are mostly made of metal because most of their parts have to be sourced from actual firearms manufacturers. Under federal law it would be illegal to build a gun that's undetectable.

— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) July 31, 2018

Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, a longtime proponent of gun control, tweeted a castigation of Trump:

“Amazing how proud he is to advertise that the NRA calls all the shots.

“Stakes are clear this November. If you want the gun lobby in charge of gun policy, vote Republican. If you want to do something about violence in America, vote em out.”

Amazing how proud he is to advertise that the NRA calls all the shots.

Stakes are clear this November. If you want the gun lobby in charge of gun policy, vote Republican. If you want to do something about violence in America, vote em out. https://t.co/mkvd3Q0nzG

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) July 31, 2018

As for the issue of homemade guns, I can see why it would be disconcerting. Many conservatives defend the 2nd Amendment with talk of background checks and licenses. With 3-D printing, all of that goes out the window, in terms of legal purchase — you can legally purchase a printer and, presumably, the materials. At the same time, however, some are against gun registration and the like, for fear of confiscation. They can’t be blamed, due to all the attacks on gun ownership from the Left (like all of these I’ve written about).

One thing I’m certain of, however, is that I’m tired of the Left having a conniption every time a Republican references the NRA, furthering the fantasy that the National Rifle Association “owns” GOP politicians. And I’m especially irked, when it regards one Donald J. Trump. One thing about Trump that is certain — and one thing I very much like — is that he cannot, and will not, be owned.

Oh, and another thing that’s certain: Chris Murphy is a goob.

Thank you for reading! What do you think about the issue of home-printed firearms? Is it part of the great bastion of liberty, or a dangerous issue that should be regulated? Please let us all know in the Comments section below.

For something totally different, please check out my articles on a Millennial evicted from his parents’ home, DeadPool2 and what it means, and Ashely Judd’s lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein.

Find all my RedState work here.

And please follow Alex Parker on Twitter and Facebook.