Embattled 3D printable gun advocate Cody Wilson and his Texas-based company, Defense Distributed, are facing a multi-state legal onslaught. Attorneys General from 21 states have coordinated a coast-to-coast lawsuit against Wilson after he reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of State that effectively permits Defense Distributed to host downloadable firearm blueprints for 3D printers. In response, Wilson has initiated a two-week fundraising and media campaign to raise awareness and secure funds for the legal battle, hoping to ultimately keep digital firearm blueprints freely available on his website.
From Wikiweapon to Legal War
Wilson, a former law student at the University of Texas, abandoned a promising legal career five years ago to pursue what began as a lark. Inspired by Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, Wilson and a friend set out to create what they called a 'Wikiweapon,' pursuing radical equality through the Maker movement—hobbyists building replacement parts or molds for art projects. No one had previously thought of a gun.
Wilson successfully produced a single-shot plastic pistol using a commercial-grade 3D printer. He made the blueprints available on his website under the tab Defcad.org. Rumors indicate the free digital firearm files were downloaded 100,000 times before the U.S. Department of State ordered their removal for violating international arms trafficking laws. Wilson complied but continued developing small milling machines for gun parts. After months of silence from the State Department, he turned the tables and sued the federal government, arguing that the order violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and his Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms.
Federal Victory, State Resistance
Wilson lost early legal battles, and many enthusiasts gave up hope. However, Wilson insists that if his case had reached the Supreme Court, he would have prevailed. He argues the State Department negotiated a settlement to avoid a definitive defeat. That settlement gave Wilson a license to publish the digital files, which he recently resumed hosting on DEFCAD.com with federal blessing.
“I had hoped to spend at least a day in celebration,” Wilson wrote to supporters. “We were prepared to show you incredible things. But on the day we began publishing files, we faced a tidal wave of lawsuits from Blue State Democrat attorneys general. We are being sued by 21 states across four venues.” The clear goal is to silence Wilson through legal attrition.
Bitcoin Cash Fundraising with Roger Ver's Match
To fight back, Wilson launched a two-week fundraiser in partnership with Bitcoin.com. CEO Roger Ver personally pledged to match every Bitcoin Cash (BCH) donation up to $100,000, viewing the support of Defense Distributed as aligned with the company's mission to promote freedom globally. Donations in BCH will be matched dollar-for-dollar during the campaign.
Images via Pixabay, Defense Distributed. This article is based on original reporting from Bitcoin.com.