3-D printed guns: What local police departments say about blueprints being allowed online

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) A federal appeals court ruled that blueprints for 3-D printed guns are allowed online.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco overturned an injunction and reinstated a Trump administration order.

3-D printers can cost anywhere from $200 with the most expensive professional 3-D printers costing around $6,000.

Local police say it's possible for a person to take a 3-D printer and print a gun but will it be able to work? Both police departments say that's unlikely.

"Basically, you have a printer that melts plastic together and forms something. You can make airplane propellers, drones, and things like that so something that is melted plastic that is melted together was not meant to withstand the pressures of a firearm," says Soledad Police Chief Damon Wasson.

The police chief says this decision will probably not have any real effects on serious crime, despite 3-D printed ghost guns being untraceable.

Ghost guns are defined as weapons that lack serial numbers with the intent of making it untraceable.

"I don't think this is going to affect California or law enforcement all that much with these 3-D printed handguns," says Wasson.

The administrative sergeant and firearms expert, Steve Ryan, for the Santa Cruz County Police Department says the real issue that Santa Cruz County is facing are firearms that are known as an "80 percent lower" which are becoming more accessible for people to assemble and fall into the hands of criminals.

"Recently, we've seen things come onto the market that requires little to no machining skills and no real precision tools. With a few commercial parts, you can assemble a handgun," says Ryan.

The Soledad Police Department says it possible for fringe groups to purchase an extremely expensive 3-D printer capable of making a more reliable firearm but there's still potential risks with printing machinery like guns.