BELLEVUE, WA – -(Ammoland.com)-The Department of Justice and Second Amendment Foundation have reached a settlement in SAF’s lawsuit on behalf of Cody Wilson and Defense Distributed over free speech issues related to 3-D files and other information that may be used to manufacture lawful firearms.
SAF and Defense Distributed had filed suit against the State Department under the Obama administration, challenging a May 2013 attempt to control public speech as an export under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), a Cold War-era law intended to control exports of military articles.
Under terms of the settlement, the government has agreed to waive its prior restraint against the plaintiffs, allowing them to freely publish the 3-D files and other information at issue. The government has also agreed to pay a significant portion of the plaintiffs’ attorney’s fees, and to return $10,000 in State Department registration dues paid by Defense Distributed as a result of the prior restraint.
Significantly, the government expressly acknowledges that non-automatic firearms up to .50-caliber – including modern semi-auto sporting rifles such as the popular AR-15 and similar firearms – are not inherently military.
“Not only is this a First Amendment victory for free speech, it also is a devastating blow to the gun prohibition lobby,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “For years, anti-gunners have contended that modern semi-automatic sport-utility rifles are so-called ‘weapons of war,’ and with this settlement, the government has acknowledged they are nothing of the sort.
“Under this settlement,” he continued, “the government will draft and pursue regulatory amendments that eliminate ITAR control over the technical information at the center of this case. They will transfer export jurisdiction to the Commerce Department, which does not impose prior restraint on public speech. That will allow Defense Distributed and SAF to publish information about 3-D technology.”
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
This may be a big deal in the long run. Hard to gauge the impact in the short run however. Stay tuned. SCOTUS is in play.
“A well regulated Militia,” if you have never served in the military? You are not protected by second amendment. All this crap about private arsenal or anarchic paramilitary is in violation of 2nd Amendment .
Thank God above that there are still a few government officials that have good old fashioned common sense and still follow the constitution! This should make every assault rifle ban illegal and null and void and all gun owners should tell these cities, community mayors and councilmen and their own state government to kiss their ass and that they are not going to follow the now confirmed by the U.S GOVERNMENT THAT THESE ARE NOT ASSAULT MILITARY FIREARMS ! IT IS TIME THAT ALL GUN OWNERS SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND STAND TOGETHER AND DISOBEY ALL GUN LAWS, RULES AND… Read more »
I am a NRA MEMBER,do I need to join your organization as well so I’m protected from idiots like David Hogg?.
Firearms IN The hands of RESPONSIBLE LAW ABIDING “CITIZENS” should NOT BE PUNISNED FOR FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF THE LAW.
THIS GOVERNMENT’S EGO HAS GOTTEN WAY OITTA HAND AND NEEDS TO BE PUT IN “CHECK”, and remember who the hell PUT THEM THERE.
I’m glad for Cody. That said, the 2nd part may end up being a larger ‘lever’ in the cold war with antis. That needs to be trotted out EVERY SINGLE TIME these wankers bring up ‘assault weapons’, ‘military weapons’, ‘weapons of war’, in that the Fed officially disagrees with such false classifications and continuing to call them such is merely inflammatory and ignorant.