Attorney General Becerra, as Part of a Multistate Coalition, Secures Preliminary Injunction Blocking Trump Administration from Distributing Blueprints of 3D-Printed, Untraceable "Ghost” Guns

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, along with a Washington State-led coalition of 20 Attorneys General, today secured a preliminary injunction to continue blocking the Trump Administration’s reckless action to make available blueprints for untraceable so-called “ghost” guns that can be manufactured on a 3D printer.

“When the Trump Administration inexplicably gave the green light to distribute on the internet blueprints of 3D-printed, untraceable ghost guns, it needlessly endangered our children, our loved ones and our men and women in law enforcement,” said Attorney General Becerra. “The Trump Administration’s actions were dangerous and incompetent. Today’s ruling should serve as a wake-up call to the Administration: if you continue to sabotage law enforcement’s work to keep communities safe, we will hold you accountable.” 

On June 29, the Trump Administration – despite two favorable federal court rulings authorizing the government to block the publication of downloadable blueprints for 3D-printed ghost guns – reached a settlement with Defense Distributed, a Texas-based company that distributes blueprints for 3D-printed ghost guns. This agreement became public in late July. On July 30, Attorney General Becerra joined a bipartisan Washington State-led coalition of 20 attorneys general calling on the federal government to change course and block Defense Distributed from posting blueprints online; a coalition of attorneys general filed suit on the same day.

The next day, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump Administration from taking steps allowing Defense Distributed to disseminate 3D ghost gun blueprints. Attorney General Becerra joined the Washington State-led coalition in requesting a preliminary injunction on August 10, 2018. The preliminary injunction issued today keeps that ban in place pending resolution of the litigation. This action will prevent the Trump Administration from lifting export controls on downloadable blueprints for 3D-printable ghost weapons. It will also prevent Defense Distributed from posting the blueprints online. 

A copy of the decision on the motion for preliminary injunction is available here.