Blueprints for 3D-printed guns could be available this week

TAMPA (FOX 13) - After years of legal battles, an Austin-based company, known as Defense Distributed, and the federal government reached a settlement, which allows the gun-rights group to share instructions to make plastic guns.

The 3D-blueprints were removed from the site in 2013 because the government said it violated international regulations, but eventually surrendered, concluding 3D-gun blueprints count as constitutionally protected speech.

"Some people might be scared of it just by the sound of it, but it's not a big deal," said Mark Serbu, a Tampa-based gun manufacturer. "Right now 3D-printing of firearms is in its infancy. You're not making great guns; you're making curiosities."

Politicians across the country argue this is a matter of public safety.

"If there were a terrorist and criminal rights organization, they'd be cheering today," said Jenny Durkan, mayor of Seattle. "They're the worst kind of guns, guns you can't detect, guns with no serial numbers, and guns that literally are ghost guns."

Starting August 1, it will be legal to download the 3D-gun blueprints.