D.C. Council Considers Ban on Printable Guns

The D.C. Council will consider banning plastic firearms created by 3D printers.

Reports that a Texas company successfully test-fired a handgun created with a 3D printer prompted a bill introduced Tuesday by Councilmember Tommy Wells. Such printers can be paired with a home computer to manufacture objects using layers of high-density plastic.

The company that created the gun, Defense Distributed, said it plans to post the schematics online. In theory, anyone could download the plans and use them to manufacture a weapon.

The District of Columbia has some of the strictest gun-control laws in the nation. Wells says the laws don't apply to plastic guns printed at home. The Democrat called the guns “a significant and immediate threat to public safety.