State AG Ferguson to file lawsuit over 3D-printed guns

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced plans Monday to sue the Trump administration over its decision to allow plans for 3D-printed guns to be released online.

RELATED: What could possibly go wrong

Ferguson is blaming the Trump administration for giving dangerous people access to guns.

The guns produced on 3D printers are made almost entirely out of ABS plastic, the same material used to make Lego bricks.

Washington state’s lawsuit comes after the federal government reached an agreement with a Texas-based gun designer that would allow plans to make 3D printable guns to be posted online starting Wednesday, Aug. 1.

A retired Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives agent told CBS News that the guns are unregulated and untraceable and a threat to public safety.

In 2013, the designer, Cody Wilson, who is also a gun activist, posted the plans online, only to have the government tell him to take them down, arguing the plans could violate international traffic in arms regulations.

He listened but sued the government, citing free speech rights.

A settlement was recently reached, allowing Wilson to legally repost his blueprints for anyone on the internet to download.

One gun hobbyist said concerns are overblown.

“For people who think you can download and just print a firearm is possible, but it is not that simple. It takes a fair bit of work to get something to be functional,” said Mike Crumling.

With this lawsuit, the state AG’s office wants a nationwide halt to the plans going online.

Late Sunday, Pennsylvania state officials successfully stopped the plans from being available in that state after taking legal action, but revealed the files had actually been up Friday and downloaded by 1,000 people.