DEFCAD, a site that played host to a number of blueprints for enabling 3D printers to create various types of weapons, has had the majority of their files pulled. Visitors to the site are greeted with the following message:
"DEFCAD files are being removed from public access at the request of the US Department of Defense Trade Controls.
Until further notice, the United States government claims control of the information."
According to their plan, It was always the goal of the non-profit group behind the site, Defense Distributed, to find out how "governments behave if they must one day operate on the assumption that any and every citizen has near instant access to a firearm through the Internet." Seems the group now has an answer to their question. Seriously though, does this move really come as a surprise to anyone?
When the group first revealed the 3D printed gun, the 'net caught fire, forcing the gun control debate to evolve into a whole new animal faster than a Thunder Stone on a Pikachu (what, this is a video game site, what kind of metaphor were you expecting?). The news caught the attention of advocates on both side of the issue, including various US senators, within mere hours of the story breaking.
However, as Nick Cage so charmingly stated in "Lord of War," "where there's a will there's a weapon," and like all things there's a demand for, the files can still be found. Taking something off the internet is like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool, and the files can still be found on the internet via various torrent sites. Now, at the risk of not incurring the wrath of the US Department of Defense, we're not going to say where they are, but they are out there.
Defense Distributed has neither commented on the removal of the files or posted anything about it in the news section of the site, but with the files still easily obtainable and readily available, the "Wiki Weapon Wars" continue...
