Legal ruling follows restraining order that blocked access to downloadable 3D gun files.

A judge ruled on a nationwide preliminary injunction today that blocks the federal government from allowing the distribution of downloadable 3D guns.

“These 3D-printed guns represent an immediate threat to our communities and we will continue the legal fight to ensure they don’t end up in the hands of children, criminals, terrorists, and others who cannot legally possess firearms,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “This is a victory for law enforcement in Pennsylvania and throughout the country.”

On July 30, Attorney General Shapiro and colleagues from eight other states filed a multistate lawsuit against the United States Department of State, seeking a nationwide injunction preventing these 3D gun files from going online. On July 31, a federal judge in Washington ordered a temporary restraining order in this case.

A controversy about public safety rose in July after a lengthy litigation between the federal government and Defense Distributed, allowing the company to continue its ‘at home’ gun-printing business.

Without regulations, Americans would be able to download a variety of actual, working guns, including AR-15s, and 3D print their own guns. These guns would not have serial numbers and would not be subject to background checks.

Prior to the nationwide restraining order today, Defense Distributed had said that “the age of the downloadable gun formally begins” on August 1.

“The harm to Pennsylvanians would have been immediate and irreversible,” said Shapiro. “Defense Distributed was promising to distribute guns in Pennsylvania in reckless disregard of the state laws that apply to gun sales and purchases in our Commonwealth. Once these untraceable guns are out on our streets and in our schools, we can never get them back.”