‘Undetectable’ plastic 3-D printed guns have been detected by TSA airport screeners

While lawmakers feud over the release of blueprints for 3-D-printed plastic guns, the Transportation Security Administration wants fliers to know that airport security screeners have been able to spot the so-called untraceable and undetectable weapons in carry-on bags.

The 3-D-printed gun controversy erupted in June when Defense Distributed of Austin, Texas, reached a settlement with the federal government to allow it to make the plans for the guns available for download. Then a federal judge in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order to stop the release of blueprints, and a coalition of 20 attorney generals, including California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, filed a motion on Aug. 2 to continue to block the release of the plans.

But TSA officials say 3-D-printed guns and firearm components have been in circulation for years and have been found on passengers trying to board commercial flights.

Since August 2016, the TSA has detected two 3-D-printed guns and two 3-D-printed firearm components, all of which were voluntarily abandoned by the passengers who were packing them in their carry-on bags, TSA spokesman Michael Bilello said.

The most recent component was discovered in January at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

“TSA officers are trained and on the lookout for 3-D guns,” he said. “We have proven detection capabilities and screening protocols in place.”

Like all firearms, explosives and replica weapons, 3-D-printed guns are prohibited in the cabin of commercial planes. Passengers caught trying to bring any weapons into a flight are turned over to local law enforcement for prosecution and could face civil penalties of up to $9,800 imposed by the TSA.

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